Cross Contamination

[HeatherMelissa]

does anyone have any links on where I could find info on cross cinamination in the kitchen. I am trying to clean the kitchen etc and want to know what I need to do?

THANKS

[celiac3270]

I don't know of any links, but on Jessica's group....USA Silly-Yaks, there was a post on cross-contamination that I think came from Delphi Forums....it's really informative, so I saved it.......I'll copy it below:

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

[flagbabyds]

I would clear out part of the counter and a pantry and have that part be strictly gluten-free. Get a gluten-free toaster that will be used just for gluten-free bread products. I use the same dishes and silverware as the rest of my family but my mom scrubs them before. Have a pantry or drawer for gluten-free snacks like crackers and chips, also clear out ashelf in the freezer and fridge and have those be teh gluten-free shelves, no gluten on them, basically get rid of all your gluten-full flours because flour is very 'poofy" and you could inhale it very easially and that would make you sick. We don't use gluten flours in the house, strictly gluten-free cooking but my sisters do buy bread and eat it on the gluten side of the kitchen.

[HeatherMelissa]

THANKS!