Possible cross-contamination – concerned about symptoms

[Dora77]

Hi everyone,

I have celiac disease and I’m asymptomatic, which makes things more stressful because I don’t know when I’ve been glutened. That’s why I try to be really careful with cross-contamination.

For almost a year, I’ve been having yellow/orange floating stools consistently. I’m not sure if it’s related to gluten exposure or something else going on. I’ve been trying to identify any possible mistakes in my routine.

Today, I made myself some gluten-free bread with cheese. Normally, I’m very careful: I use one hand to handle the cheese packaging (which could be contaminated, since it’s from the supermarket and was probably sitting on a checkout belt that had flour residue), and the other hand to touch my gluten-free bread and plate.

But today I accidentally touched the bread with the same hand I used to grab the cheese pack from the fridge. The fridge handle might also have traces of gluten since I live in a shared household where gluten is used.

I’m worried this mistake could have contaminated my bread. There were no visible crumbs or flour, but I know even trace amounts can be a problem.

Has anyone had similar experiences or symptoms from this level of contact? Could this kind of exposure be enough to trigger symptoms or cause intestinal damage?

Thanks for reading.

[Scott Adams]

It sounds like you’re being incredibly diligent with your gluten-free routine, and I understand how stressful it can be—especially when you’re asymptomatic and have no clear way to confirm exposure. The uncertainty is tough to manage, but you’re doing the right thing by being cautious.

Your concern about cross-contamination from the fridge handle or cheese packaging is valid, as even trace amounts of gluten can cause issues for some people with celiac disease. However, the level of exposure you described (indirect contact with a potentially contaminated surface) is likely very minimal. While it’s possible that repeated small exposures could contribute to symptoms or damage over time, a single incident like this is less likely to cause a major reaction—though everyone’s sensitivity varies.

That said, your ongoing issue with yellow/orange floating stools is worth investigating further. While it could be related to gluten exposure (especially if you’re unknowingly ingesting small amounts regularly), it could also be due to other factors like fat malabsorption (common in celiac disease, even when gluten-free), bile acid issues, or something unrelated like a food intolerance (e.g., dairy). Have you brought this up with your doctor or gastroenterologist? A follow-up celiac antibody test (if you haven’t had one recently) or other tests (like fecal fat or bile acid testing) might help clarify whether gluten is slipping into your diet or if another issue is at play.

In the meantime, if you’re worried about shared spaces, you could consider:

• Wiping down high-touch surfaces (like fridge handles) before use.
• Keeping your gluten-free foods in a designated area of the fridge/pantry.
• Using clean utensils or gloves when handling packaged foods if contamination is a concern.

If your symptoms persist, definitely loop in your healthcare team for extra reassurance.