celiac working in fast food?

[spartnbu]

I just got hired on as an employee at del taco. im afraid of maybe getting cross contamination somehow? like flour in the air or something?? im just very scared.

[cyclinglady]

I think you might be fine.  All the tortillas come from the factory.  I imagine even the meat products are shipped from the warehouse already cooked and preseasoned.    They would cut up just the produce in the store.    Just keep your hands out of your mouth, use gloves where possible and wash your hands frequently.  Have fun!  

(Del Taco was THE place to go when I was in High School back in the 70’s — cheap but tasty!)

[Ennis-TX]

If your overly concerned about inhaling stuff in the air look up respro.com mask. Get one of their pollution mask, your employer would probably even like it, makes health issues easier as you would be wearing a dust/face mask so no germs.
As cycling lady mentioned wear gloves, wash hands often, be grateful your not working in a place that deals with pizza or fresh buns for sandwiches or burgers. Very little gluten flour to fly around in a Mexican restaurant.
Who knows maybe if they a gluten free menu etc. you can be the specialist who knows how to deal with CC and allergy concerns, might earn you some points with management.

UPDATE: WEAR GLOVES GALORE....just looked at their menu...they have wheat in everything.....but on the bright side do not see much application for it to be flying everywhere...Apron might help so you do not get stuff on your clothes to bring home. Seems flour tortilla are very common in the establishment. Open Original Shared Link
 

[lyfan]

"Seems flour tortilla are very common in the establishment."

 Yes, the same way that Taco Bell manages to poison just about everything with gluten, because it is cheap, and wheat flour because gringos don't like corn so much. So, OK, they are losing 3% of the general market share, plus the other 3-9% that would be eating out with us...that's only good business sense if you figure gluten must be their "secret sauce".(G)

I think most managers would be happy to have an employee who was a clean freak and hygiene specialist, as opposed to what minimum wage usually attracts. (Clean freak yes, food nazi no, there's a line to be drawn.) I really have never been concerned with skin contact or inhalation of *incidental* flour or crumbs or sauces (although I wouldn't walk through clouds of it!) since the celiac and non-celiac gluten problems typically come from gluten IN THE DIGESTIVE TRACT. Handling the stuff shouldn't be a problem, especially if you are doing food service properly--which usually means gloves. Even the "lunch ladies" in cafeteria lines were gloves, for simple hygiene.

[Awol cast iron stomach]

Congratulations on your new job.  You may find after working with your co workers if you explain your concerns someone may cover you on the gluten tortillas orders if you help out on some other task etc-trade. Worth a shot.  Also as others said use those gloves.  

Good luck