Cross Contamination In My Kitchen.

[SGWhiskers]

I'm in need of some second opinions. Hubby and I have fallen into a nice little routine of managind a gluten lite household. I cook all gluten free. He has bread, occassional cereals, and occassional pre-made gluten snacks. He went gluten free for several months, and then we agreed to let a little back if it was well managed. I have some concerns about the management of gluten though, and I need some help reinforcing or dispelling my paranoia.

Keeping in mind, my hubby is fantastic and tries an incredible amount. He has gotten pretty good about cooking for me but unless you are personally afraid of CC, I'm not sure you ever really "get it".

What here is dangerous: (these are the occassional worst offenders)

Washing the pots and pans in water that has had Quaker Oatmeal

Mixing up the gluten free and gluten sponges.

Putting the dish with visible gluten crumbs into the dishwasher.

Eating gluten, washing hands, drying on the dishtowel.

"Forgetting" and eating gluten in bed-how does he forget? I guess when everything else is gluten free you don't worry.

The gluten counter is above the silverware drawer

Touching the refridgerator handle with gluten hands

Handling a bird who eats gluten lite

Stealing chips from my bowl when he is not eating gluten without washing hands

Oh so many more little ones.

Microwaving gluten while I'm prepping dinner (over oven microwave).

Using the dish towel to dry the top of the cups in the dishwasher

Touching the dish towel without washing hands first.

Insisting on Palmolive dish soap.

I operate in a sterile cooking/eating world which borders on paranoia. I also know that the bottom line in what is acceptable is whatever keeps me healthy. I just have not figured out where that line is yet.

He has all his own gluten kitchen tools and uses them fathfully. He knows exactly what does and does not have gluten. He backs me up when we are out to make sure I get food or don't have to answer a million questions. He knows I can't be in the same room as hot gluten. He makes even his own meals/snacks gluten free most of the time. He knows which can opener is gluten free. He loves Redbridge. He does all the dishes and most of the housekeeping. But he does not have Celiac and isn't afraid of gluten.

Can you help me either buck up and stand my ground or set aside some paranoia?

Thanks for the support.

[twe0708]

I'm in need of some second opinions. Hubby and I have fallen into a nice little routine of managind a gluten lite household. I cook all gluten free. He has bread, occassional cereals, and occassional pre-made gluten snacks. He went gluten free for several months, and then we agreed to let a little back if it was well managed. I have some concerns about the management of gluten though, and I need some help reinforcing or dispelling my paranoia.

Keeping in mind, my hubby is fantastic and tries an incredible amount. He has gotten pretty good about cooking for me but unless you are personally afraid of CC, I'm not sure you ever really "get it".

What here is dangerous: (these are the occassional worst offenders)

Washing the pots and pans in water that has had Quaker Oatmeal

Mixing up the gluten free and gluten sponges.

Putting the dish with visible gluten crumbs into the dishwasher.

Eating gluten, washing hands, drying on the dishtowel.

"Forgetting" and eating gluten in bed-how does he forget? I guess when everything else is gluten free you don't worry.

The gluten counter is above the silverware drawer

Touching the refridgerator handle with gluten hands

Handling a bird who eats gluten lite

Stealing chips from my bowl when he is not eating gluten without washing hands

Oh so many more little ones.

Microwaving gluten while I'm prepping dinner (over oven microwave).

Using the dish towel to dry the top of the cups in the dishwasher

Touching the dish towel without washing hands first.

Insisting on Palmolive dish soap.

I operate in a sterile cooking/eating world which borders on paranoia. I also know that the bottom line in what is acceptable is whatever keeps me healthy. I just have not figured out where that line is yet.

He has all his own gluten kitchen tools and uses them fathfully. He knows exactly what does and does not have gluten. He backs me up when we are out to make sure I get food or don't have to answer a million questions. He knows I can't be in the same room as hot gluten. He makes even his own meals/snacks gluten free most of the time. He knows which can opener is gluten free. He loves Redbridge. He does all the dishes and most of the housekeeping. But he does not have Celiac and isn't afraid of gluten.

Can you help me either buck up and stand my ground or set aside some paranoia?

Thanks for the support.

I hear what you are saying. I didn't want to ban wheat from my family but when they bring home fast food (cheeseburgers) and then touch the counters, faucets or fridge, everything is contaminated. Same with pizza. My husband even ate a sandwich at the computer we both share. Do you think there is wheat all over the key board, desk and mouse! I don't even buy regular bread anymore and have told them if they are going to eat fast food they need to try and do so at the restaurant. You should buy the gluten free oatmeal. There is no difference in taste and it's great to have in the morning. Good luck!

[Glamour]

Since you are afraid and it is stressing you.

I would think that it would help to buy gluten free products that taste good, like oatmeal for the entire family.

Does washing and rinsing pots on sanitize wash help control gluten?

They clean up their own messes and use their own flatware, dish towels, and run their dishes after their meals. I would move the silverware and cooking equipment away from the gluten cabinet and require that they wipe this area and counters down with a throw away product, not dish towels or things that spread crumbs. Same with stuff they use to wash dishes and dry them, get them one color and make them put them in the washer when finished cleaning, wiping hands, etc. Discourage any towels, cloths, sponges to be left all over.

I would use dish soap and cleaning supplies that you can tolerate. Get rid of the others.

Absolutely no eating in bed...you need a safe zone.

If it were me, I would do a total kitchen wipedown with a vinegar spray, right before I prepare my own food, and after they did their vinegar spray wipedown when they finished. This includes fridge. I would use my own pots, glassware , utensils, and keep separate. You will be able to control yourself and your things better than them, but have a meeting and discuss this nicely.

[WW340]

I know where you are coming from. I have almost the exact situation here. My husband is very good, but not as careful as I am.

He does the very things you mention. Because he is generally very good, I let some things slide and don't say anything. However, I still protect myself as much as possible.

My husband does the cleaning also, so it is tough to complain. I think as long as you have a good dishwasher, you should be fine if the dishes are coming out clean. We do put all our silverware face up, handle down except for knives, so food would not be likely to catch on the eating surface.

I use paper towels for the most part, although my husband likes dish towels, so I change them out frequently without saying anything about it. Sometimes several times a day if necessary. He never seems to notice that, or just doesn't care that I do it.

I had my numbers tested recently and am almost negative. All were in the 2 - 5 range, so I don't worry so much. Also, I am feeling good.

Ironically, our silverware drawer is also just below his gluten counter, the only spot we have for it really, so I always look as I am getting a utencil out to make sure there are no crumbs. I also just take all the flatware out and wash it and the plastic holder frequently.

He washes the dishes and I put away the clean dishes, that way I know they are clean and have not been contaminated.

I don't use a sponge at all, that way I don't need to worry about the contamination. I use disposables only, or the dish brush which goes in the dishwasher.

[WW340]

And, I meant to add, that I had my celiac panel repeated recently and my numbers are in the 2 - 5 range, so I am not getting too much cross contamination.

I also am very sensitive and do not feel like I am getting glutened at home.

[tarnalberry]

1. Washing the pots and pans in water that has had Quaker Oatmeal
   
2. Mixing up the gluten free and gluten sponges.
   
3. Putting the dish with visible gluten crumbs into the dishwasher.
   
4. Eating gluten, washing hands, drying on the dishtowel.
   
5. "Forgetting" and eating gluten in bed-how does he forget? I guess when everything else is gluten free you don't worry.
   
6. The gluten counter is above the silverware drawer
   
7. Touching the refridgerator handle with gluten hands
   
8. Handling a bird who eats gluten lite
   
9. Stealing chips from my bowl when he is not eating gluten without washing hands
   
10. Oh so many more little ones.
    
11. Microwaving gluten while I'm prepping dinner (over oven microwave).
    
12. Using the dish towel to dry the top of the cups in the dishwasher
    
13. Touching the dish towel without washing hands first.
    
14. Insisting on Palmolive dish soap.
    

I operate in a sterile cooking/eating world which borders on paranoia. I also know that the bottom line in what is acceptable is whatever keeps me healthy. I just have not figured out where that line is yet.

I don't think that there is a universally acceptable level of avoidance or allowance. For instance, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 11, and 12 are all commonplace in our house. We don't have separate sponges, we share dishtowels (with clean hands and non-gluten surfaces), we don't segregate runs in the dishwasher. (And I don't know why Palmolive would be a problem... I've never seen a gluten containing ingredient in it...) We do preclude *dirty* (gluten-dirty) hands from going into gluten free foods or towels or shared surfaces (like fridge handles) - that's just straight up contamination.

For us, this works great. I see no reason why there would be gluten left behind on clean dishes, even with shared sponges, as we rinse the sponges, and the whole purpose of the soap is to lift anything off the plate and it's rinsed off when the dish is rinsed. (Of course, we don't rinse in a standing sink of water - under running water, since few dishes are cleaned in the sink in our house.)

Figure out what works for you. In *my* opinion, there are some things that you're being paranoid about (like him drying clean hands on a shared towel - his hands are clean!), but some you are not (like gluten in the bed; that's just disturbing, even if it wasn't gluten). But my opinion can't weigh your reaction and sensitivity, or how much adjustment to routine the two of you can live with.

[SGWhiskers]

Thank you for the reality check. I would be curious about the realities of other shared kitchens. My major anxiety and his major adjustment are over. This is more about fine tuning.

We like to have a cup of tea and watch TV in bed at night, and a snack sometimes goes with that. He pouts when I tell him he can't eat that snack in bed, but he listens. He found a pumpkin pie plate on the night stand this morning though and can't remember eating the pie in bed, but where else would he have eaten it? And I realize food in bed freaks alot of people out.

The sponge thing really worried me, even though I wasn't getting obvious glutenings.

I didn't see anything in Palmolive that worried me, but I've never called the company.

I assume everything in the house has a thin film of gluten in/on it except the clean dishes and pans. I just wash like a maniac when I'm cooking or about to touch my mouth. It works for us. I couldn't live with monitoring the entire house for gluten sterilty. I don't find crumbs anywhere and I watch him be reasonably careful. I just realize that managing celiac sometimes throws reason out the window.

And yes. I know I'm paranoid about some things. It is good to get some perspective on what though.

Thanks folks.

[Glamour]

Sponges are impossible to rinse clean of soap, bacteria, and I am sure gluten. I have never liked cleaning with them, and they smell. At least you can throw cloths in a hot washer.