Working In A Restaurant As A Celiac

[mothernature]

My son began last year working at On The Border, and was recently diagnosed with celiac. I read something about air borne wheat, etc. Hmmm...does anyone have advice if this environment is the best place? He loves his job, loves saving his money, and I think he would be soooo disappointed if he needed to rethink the job. If not this restaurant, what about a place with steak like Outback. We kinda made that joke, not really thinking of the reality.

Everyday brings something new! Thanks.

[kim:)]

My son began last year working at On The Border, and was recently diagnosed with celiac. I read something about air borne wheat, etc. Hmmm...does anyone have advice if this environment is the best place? He loves his job, loves saving his money, and I think he would be soooo disappointed if he needed to rethink the job. If not this restaurant, what about a place with steak like Outback. We kinda made that joke, not really thinking of the reality.

Everyday brings something new! Thanks.

Hi,

I have celiac diesase and I have worked as a hostess and a prep cook at a restaurant. I never really had problems, expessialy when I was a hostess. But when I was a prep cook all I really had to do is wear gloves and what not, but I never got sick from wheat in the air and I am very sensitive when it comes to wheat. Even a crumb or the same pans will make me sick. If it helps I work at a grill type place and there is nothing really I can eat. I even work with flour a lot of the time and as long as Im wearing gloves I am all set. Im only 15 but I have been on the gluten free diet for 4 years. Hope I could be of help. Good luck!

[home-based-mom]

My son began last year working at On The Border, and was recently diagnosed with celiac. I read something about air borne wheat, etc. Hmmm...does anyone have advice if this environment is the best place? He loves his job, loves saving his money, and I think he would be soooo disappointed if he needed to rethink the job. If not this restaurant, what about a place with steak like Outback. We kinda made that joke, not really thinking of the reality.

Everyday brings something new! Thanks.

What exactly *is* his job? Waiter? Bus tables? Host? Cook?

If he takes precautions to avoid contaminating himself and has not been getting sick, then he should be OK. On the other hand, if he has been routinely showing sign of getting glutened in spite of his best efforts to prevent it, then maybe it's best that he move on.

Last week we took our daughter to Outback for her 21st birthday. The first thing that came to the table after the water was a wooden platter of bread for the gluten eaters among us. Don't look to Outback as a safe haven just because they have a gluten free menu and understand cross contamination. There is still gluten on every table.

[mothernature]

Thank you so much for you insight, it is very helpful. He does have to touch the flour tortillas, so the gloves would be essential. I know he presently doesn't use gloves. I will share this with him, and I hope he will remember the gloves!

Hi,

I have celiac diesase and I have worked as a hostess and a prep cook at a restaurant. I never really had problems, expessialy when I was a hostess. But when I was a prep cook all I really had to do is wear gloves and what not, but I never got sick from wheat in the air and I am very sensitive when it comes to wheat. Even a crumb or the same pans will make me sick. If it helps I work at a grill type place and there is nothing really I can eat. I even work with flour a lot of the time and as long as Im wearing gloves I am all set. Im only 15 but I have been on the gluten free diet for 4 years. Hope I could be of help. Good luck!

[Ashley]

It depends if your son can tolerate the exposure to all that gluten. I worked at Maggie Moos for a year and a half before I had to quit. I constantly got sick, especially from cooking the waffle cones. For awhile, I was fine. Then, later on, I would get migraines almost every shift.

But, if your son can bear, make sure that he wears gloves whenever possible. And wash wash wash wash his hands! But, as long as he is not around the food cooking, I think he'll be all right. Also, letting his boss know that he has Celiac could help, too. My employer was very understanding about it.

Good luck to you and your son!

-Ash.

[home-based-mom]

Thank you so much for you insight, it is very helpful. He does have to touch the flour tortillas, so the gloves would be essential. I know he presently doesn't use gloves. I will share this with him, and I hope he will remember the gloves!

Never mind his own health - for the health of the restaurant patrons he and all other employees should never be touching food with their bare hands!

[JNBunnie1]

Never mind his own health - for the health of the restaurant patrons he and all other employees should never be touching food with their bare hands!

No, they shouldn't, but rare is the restaurant staff that truly adheres to this. My Daddy was a professional chef, it's very hard to get the support staff to always wear gloves.