How Strict Do We Have To Be? (with Appliances Etc)

[3groovygirls]

I was wondering how you all are? My DD has Celiac and she's (obviously) gluten-free. I bought Elisabeth Hasselbacks new book and it pointed out things like having a seperate toaster, not to use those plastic (or anything but metal) utensils when cooking, etc.

Wow, I wasn't that strict and she seems fine! I DO pop her gluten-free waffle in the same toaster as her sisters waffles. Am I hurting her doing this? She doesn't react to it like she does when she eats gluten!

I guess I'm wondering are some parts of her book over the top or am I supposed to be doing this?

Like at a resturant she says she requests the staff to change their plastic gloves before cooking her food. when you go for ice cream MAKE them open up a new 25 gallon drum b/c the gluten-free ice cream might be contaminated b/c it was used in Cookie dough ice cream 2 days ago and then in that tub, so asking simply for a new ice cream scooper isn't enough.

Anyway, just curious about this stuff! I mean I have seperate butters and cream cheeses b/c of the crumbs but she points out some stuff I never even thought of like the above.

Oh and what about soaps, I've used J&J her whole life - should I worry it might have gluten in it? She's always been fine! My GI NEVER mentioned this stuff to me. He never gave me a Celiac how to. He simply said gluten free and we were off! Nothing else, no lists, no metions of products, etc.

[ENF]

I have not yet read Elisabeth Hasselbeck's book, but what you have mentioned is consistent with expert advice on preventing cross-contamination - it only takes a microscopic amount of gluten to damage the villi, even if the Celiac patient doesn't notice symptoms.

The book has received some negative responses by Celiac experts, and patients, but the cross-contamination info in your post is on target.

[Piccolo]

3 groovy girls,

Let me tell you about my experience. My reaction to gluten is gut pain. One time I started using my son's peanut butter. I wondered why later in the week my gut hurt. Also I was using the shared toaster and again my gut hurt until I got my own.

So yes you need a gluten free toaster, butter, mayo etc. anything that can be dipped into because of the cross contamination.

Susan