Loved one works with malt

[healthysquirrel]

Hello there. 

Hope everyone is well.

My partner just got a job in a brewery and will start soon. I am scared that this will affect me. He has long hair and a beard. Fabulous gluten traps ;) any advice on what to do ? Maybe someone with coeliac should not live with someone who works in a super gluten environment? There is no shower at the brewery and I am aware of plastic caps for hair, but that is not good for his scalp as it is physical work with tons of sweat. I need to live life without fear while taking care of my own health ! 

I have been gluten free for a few months, not feeling better, but I am being patient and having other tests done.

Thanks in advance for your level headed responses ! 

[kareng]

They don’t make people working around food/ beer wear hairnets?  

Couldn’t he just take a shower as soon as he gets home?  Take off his clothes and put straight into a garbage bag/ laundry bag? I don’t see that you would be in any great danger from gluten stuck to him, as long as he didn’t shake it off (like a dog ) in the kitchen.  

[healthysquirrel]

40 minutes ago, kareng said:

They don’t make people working around food/ beer wear hairnets?  

Couldn’t he just take a shower as soon as he gets home?  Take off his clothes and put straight into a garbage bag/ laundry bag? I don’t see that you would be in any great danger from gluten stuck to him, as long as he didn’t shake it off (like a dog ) in the kitchen.  

thanks Kareng, Hairnets are always a good idea! I used to brew and always wore my hair back. (thats before I cut it short because I lost so much of it ; ) 
There are solutions that will help and be practical for everyone in the end. When i used to brew I would take a shower immediately because I was so gross. hahaha. 

Of course we will make many errors as this is new to both of us. He could even suggest that they all leave their clothes there and maybe get a washing machine so that no one is lugging heavy dirty things back and forth. Everything is possible. I really don't want to become paranoid, so talking about this helps me A LOT and taking small steps to make it realistic also helps.

I realise that I need to post more often (even the silly questions) because it is so helpful to write to people who get it.

PS Any Celiac friends in Switzerland by any chance?

[kareng]

The fact is, you will get all kinds of responses .  You will get some people that say they were glutened  by a door handle or being next to someone who ate gluten earlier in the day.  I try to use some common sense and a little bit of elementary school science. 

Is this malted barley in grain or powder form?  Powder obviously will “ poof” up and get a person covered.  Grain is a bit heavier and you could see it and avoid it or comb it out outside the brewery.  If it’s powdered - could he change his clothes at the brewery and put them in a  bag to bring home?  Maybe comb out his hair and beard in the bathroom or outside before coming home? 

[healthysquirrel]

59 minutes ago, kareng said:

The fact is, you will get all kinds of responses .  You will get some people that say they were glutened  by a door handle or being next to someone who ate gluten earlier in the day.  I try to use some common sense and a little bit of elementary school science. 

Is this malted barley in grain or powder form?  Powder obviously will “ poof” up and get a person covered.  Grain is a bit heavier and you could see it and avoid it or comb it out outside the brewery.  If it’s powdered - could he change his clothes at the brewery and put them in a  bag to bring home?  Maybe comb out his hair and beard in the bathroom or outside before coming home? 

YAY for common sense! I honestly did not even think of brushing his hair out, good idea! They grind their malt, so there is an entire room full of malt powder. Up until a few months ago, i used to sleep on the malt bags in my own malt room and I was always so ill without knowing why. I also used to taste a ton of beer because I am a perfectionist :)

Yeah, he will need to make adjustments, but it should be fine, if not, living apart is also quite a romantic idea after 13 years together hahahahaha

Talking about brewing is making me realise that I miss it. I may try to restart my company as a gluten free brewer or just brew kefir, but for now, my priority is getting better. 

Have a great day!

 

 

[kareng]

4 hours ago, healthysquirrel said:

YAY for common sense! I honestly did not even think of brushing his hair out, good idea! They grind their malt, so there is an entire room full of malt powder. Up until a few months ago, i used to sleep on the malt bags in my own malt room and I was always so ill without knowing why. I also used to taste a ton of beer because I am a perfectionist :)

Yeah, he will need to make adjustments, but it should be fine, if not, living apart is also quite a romantic idea after 13 years together hahahahaha

Talking about brewing is making me realise that I miss it. I may try to restart my company as a gluten free brewer or just brew kefir, but for now, my priority is getting better. 

Have a great day!

 

 

If you decide to brew gluten-free beer, you will need to take a “ business trip” to Ghostfish in Seattle, Holidaily in Colorado and Ground Breaker in Oregon.  Learn about the different grains they use.  They malt other grains like rice and millet.  Not sure how common millet and sorghum are in your country .   So they might be hard to get.  A big thing here are hard ciders - usually apple based with other fruits thrown in.  

[Ennis-TX]

7 hours ago, healthysquirrel said:

YAY for common sense! I honestly did not even think of brushing his hair out, good idea! They grind their malt, so there is an entire room full of malt powder. Up until a few months ago, i used to sleep on the malt bags in my own malt room and I was always so ill without knowing why. I also used to taste a ton of beer because I am a perfectionist :)

Yeah, he will need to make adjustments, but it should be fine, if not, living apart is also quite a romantic idea after 13 years together hahahahaha

Talking about brewing is making me realise that I miss it. I may try to restart my company as a gluten free brewer or just brew kefir, but for now, my priority is getting better. 

Have a great day!

 

 

Well I have someone here locally who does moonshine gluten free using oak chips, sugar, and yeast. Ciders are getting really popular, brewing a hard apple, or pear cider, mixing in other fruits, perhaps mulling it wonderful this holiday season.

[ch88]

I wouldn't think it would be a problem generally. If they grind their own grain in the open air and don't filter the air there could possibly be dust contamination in the air. If there is lots of dust in the air it is a fire and health hazard for him. My guess though is that the place is clean and dust free. Likely he will come back with trace amounts of gluten on him, but it is very unlikely you will eat or breath in a significant amount. A dog could sniff it out but it won't harm you. 

[healthysquirrel]

thanks for your help everyone. I feel inspired and less nervous! I think that once I start feeling better, I will be start some cider and/or moonshine :)