Cross-contamination Question

[Raditch]

I do not have Celiac Disease, but my Mother has been diagnosed

as having it. She is doing fairly well at managing her diet, but it seems

to me that she is becoming overly concerned/obsessed with certain

issues relating to her condition. My question is this: to what degree

must my Mother be concerned with cross-contamination?

For example: If a label on a loaf of bread declares the bread to

be gluten-free, is it safe to assume that the bread has not been

cross-contaminated with, lets say, wheat dust from some other

product being produced nearby? Lets suppose that this cross-

contamination HAS occurred. Would this presumably immeasurable

amount of wheat dust really contribute to the condition in an

adverse way?

Thanks,

Rad

[plantime]

If a label on a loaf of bread declares the bread to

be gluten-free, is it safe to assume that the bread has not been

cross-contaminated with, lets say, wheat dust from some other

product being produced nearby? Lets suppose that this cross-

contamination HAS occurred. Would this presumably immeasurable

amount of wheat dust really contribute to the condition in an

adverse way?

Thanks,

Rad

Cross-contamination is a serious issue for us. It is very possible that a loaf of gluten-free bread produced in a regular factory could be contaminated. And yes, it could be very bad, even if it is just a miniscule amount of contamination. The maltodextrin in one small vitamin tablet sent me into a spin for several days. It was a teeny-tiny amount, but it was enough. If a person gets enough "immeasurable amounts", it becomes enough to measure. Your mom is right to be concerned. As she gets used to the diet, it will be easier for her, and she will seem less obsessed. I am glad that you are being supportive of her. This is a major change in her life, and it is difficult to achieve. Please keep in mind that celiac is genetic, and you should consider getting yourself tested, even if you have no symptoms. Take care of yourself, and help her read labels!

[celiac3270]

I am a member at Jessica's (angel_jd1) board, and I get all the postings made there via e-mail....I recently got an e-mail regarding cross-contamination....it may sound ridiculous for a non-Celiac, but this stuff is essential to know and practice:

Help with kitchen cross-contamination

Here are cross-contamination potentiel issues

1. Replace toaster/toaster oven. Never use the same toaster/oven that

gluten products have been used in.

2. Replace all cutting boards. Old boards may be kept separate for

use with gluten foods.

3. Replace wooden or teflon cooking utensils. Old untensils may be

kept separate for use with gluten foods.

4. Replace porous pots/pans/skillets. Teflon and cast iron are porous

and retain gluten from past cooking.

5. Replace pans with seams. Past gluten products can easily be

retained in the seam.

Never wash gluten and gluten-free dishes in the same dish water.

Use disposable rags/sponges if your kitchen is not totally gluten-free.

8. Many issues one forgets to look at: can openers

colanders

pets (food, licking)

stamps, envelopes

stamp hinges (for collectors)

lipstick

toothpaste

9. Very important: silver drawer: there are always crumbs there.

10. shared tables, like at work. I frequently sit down to have lunch

& find someone else's sandwich crumbs all over.

11. Perhaps remembering to wash your hands before eating finger food.

I know our moms always told us to do this, but it's easy to forget.

There are so many potential contaminants in the house, especially for

those of us with pets or kids, that you might not even realize you've

touched something that's potentially dangerous.

12. bulk bins at the grocery: it has one of the most cross-

contaminated potentiel.

One has to ask the owners to put some aside when they have a new bag.

13. At school: Gym class was held in the multi-purpose room

(lunchroom) where kids had just eaten breakfast. Custodians swept the

floor after breakfast, but didn't wash it. My son crawled around on

the floor during gym class, wiggled his loose teeth...gluten.

Kids met for chess club in the library during lunch, so they ate

their lunch in the library. Crumbs on the carpet get on little

fingers.

Kids eat snacks in the hallways. Crumbs get tracked into the

classroom. Five year olds spent a lot of time crawling on the floor.

Some brands of play "clay" (ex. Rose Art) contain gluten. Some finger

paints also do. Check out all art supplies used in the art room and

in the classroom.

14. the conveyor belts at the checkout counters in supermarkets: for

ex.: leaking flour bags, etc

[j9n]

Wow celiac3270, you are a wealth of information! Thanks so much for all the tips, it really helps us newbies!!!

[debmidge]

Thank you celiac3270 for that info, I am a semi newbie and some of that I didn't know either.

As to bread, to the original poster I can say that we prefer Gluten Free Pantry white bread mix to any store bought. I've adapted it to how my husband likes it. I add real eggs, a teaspoon of salt, some rice bran, a teaspoon of light cream and real butter and corn oil. It tastes like the bread from Charlotte's Bakery. I use a Breadman bread machine, but it can be made in the oven. Remember, the pans, and mixing implements must be so clean and gluten free and if they are like celiac3270 advises (teflon or silverstone coated, buy new) . My Breadman is only used for gluten free bread, always has been since I purchased it last November. I can never use it for regular breads as I never want gluten infesting it.

As for mail order, www.kinnikinnick.com has good hamburger rolls (gluten free of course).

[Boojca]

debmidge,

I use that bread mix too, and LOVE it. Do you find the cream and oil make it a little less crumbly? I am always looking for ways to improve on that!

Bridget

[Alexolua]

Dang, thanks celiac3270.. now I need to go jump off a bridge, err.. I mean try to stick to that list. =)

[Guest ~wAvE WeT sAnD~]

Kisses from glutened significant other

Am I getting cross-contamination from my boyfriend?

[Alexolua]

Jill, yeah you can be. Least I believe it is possible from things I read on here. I don't know how long after he ate he is "safe" to kiss. But if you get him to brush his teeth, floss, mouthwash.. and maybe wash his lips? lol.. it should be fine.

Or maybe that's over doing it. Trying using the search option for the forums, pretty sure I saw a thread about that on here somewhere.

[celiac3270]

Yep.....definitely.....here's a link to a past thread on this:

Open Original Shared Link

[Guest ~wAvE WeT sAnD~]

Thanks you two!!! I guess I'll have to tell my boyfriend about this.

[Alexolua]

You're welcome. And while it could be an annoyance, love conquers all as they say. =)

[burdee]

I have to add one more potential cross contamination situation. If you hold hands around the table to say grace with people who have handled or prepared regular bread before sitting down, you can easily pick up crumbs from their hands and transfer it to any hand to mouth food you consume. My husband always wants to hold hands while we say grace, until he realized that when we both prepared sandwiches for lunch, he was transferring his sandwich bread gluten to my hands which would hold my sandwich and I would possibly consume that gluten. Much to his credit, HE actually recognized the potential contamination, so we no longer do a hand holding grace.

BURDEE

[debmidge]

Booja (Bridget): Let me know if you want my directions on the gluten-free pantry bread mix extras that I use. Deb

[astyanax]

why is there any concern over a toaster oven (as long as you're not placing directly on the rack). i understand a toaster - that was one of the first things i did when i was diagnosed. but to me a toaster oven is like a regular oven and i use both with the same caution (tin foil, pan, etc.). so i'm not sure what the cross-contamination is there.

also, i had never heard of the separate pots and pans. it does make sense, but doesn't that mean no eating out ? i doubt any restaurant would use separate pots/pans just for celiacs or do people just only order things that wouldn't be made in those?

[Espomart]

My son was just diagnosed with celiac. He is 13. I am so concerned I am going to cross contaminate him. If at his 6 month recheck he has gluten in his system I will feel awful because I know he is doing his best to avoid gluten. How do you avoid cc with a busy household with two teenage (or almost 12 & 13) boys a husband, a dog (that he loves and cuddles) and myself?? I'm making myself crazy over this.