How Sick Can Hand Soaps Make You?

[Almendra]

I just spent Friday-Wednesday at the home of my in-laws. My mother-in-law is a wonderful hostess and has Bath and Body Works Anti-Bacterial hand soaps at every sink. They smell so nice. They moisturize...

I seemed to stay a little sick the whole weekend. Snacks and meals that I knew were gluten-free seemed to bother me.

Could it really be the hand soap?

And, assuming that it is, as I now do, should I start carrying around a container of my own soap-for-washing-hands everywhere I go (overkill)? Do gas stations and rest stops now present a new health hazard?

Has anyone had an issue with public restrooms?

[GlutenFreeManna]

I don't know about Bath and Body Works soap, but their lotions contain wheat germ oil. I found out the hard way when the lotion made me break out in hives. Even if you don't get that reaction however, using soaps with gluten can make you sick. Unless you didn't once touch your food or you face or your mouth, some is going to get into your body. And even if you were extremely careful not to touch anything that enters your mouth, what about the people that prepared you food? They likely washed their hands before doing so. I do carry Germ-X hand sanitizer with me everywhere I go. Restrooms at gas stations and many restaurants are nearly impossible to get out the door without touch the door handle (who knows that the person before you washed their hands) anyway, so I just run my hands under the faucet (the friction+rubbing cleans a little even without soap) then when I get out of the restroom I use a little Germ-X from my purse. I know plenty of moms (without celiac or celiac kids) that carry hand sanitizer and wipes with them at all times for their kids, so I don't see how it's overkill to do so for myself.

[Skylark]

There are old posts on this forum that say the BBW soaps are gluten-free.

[Almendra]

I have spent this week calling them to check on things. They gave me the list of the scientific names of their wheat, rye, barley, and oat products - but the representative did not give an answer about the source of the tocopherols used in their products, which I've read could be wheat-sourced and contain gluten. She told me she did not know and did not have access to that information. I did not even begin to question about cross-contamination.

I then e-mailed the company. I do not think our communications are finished, but as of right now, the only products they will commit to labeling as gluten-free are SOME items from their 100% Pure line.

A search for gluten-free on their website shows these products.