I'm A Newbie...need Help Understanding Cc!

[Free-CountryGirl]

As a college student, and when I'm at home, it can be extremely difficult for me to avoid gettign glutened since my household, and obviously college, is not gluten-free. My mom is just starting to understand how severe it can be for me if I eat gluten, and how real of a disease Celiac's is, especially after she read an article in a mag about how eating gluten can affect a celiac's health (such as, a 72% increase in risk for cancer). Anyways, I am such a newbie at going gluten-free, and I really need help on how to avoid cross contamination. I have washed off a few select utensils with boiling hot water and soap then put them away in a baggie and in a place seperate from any gluten, is the boiling hot water enough to kill off any contamination?? Can I get glutened from touching the microwave handle? I washed off the pan I use to scramble my eggs in, in the same way I cleaned off my utensils, is that ok? As for surfaces that are around gluten (countertops) can I still set my plate on them? If not, is using those disinfecting wipes good enough to temporarily remove gluten contamination for that moment so I can set my plate on the table? Also, can I even be in the kitchen while they are using flour for cooking?? How come I can't use the same pots ans pans they use for gluten food if I wash them properly?

I am sorry if I seem so paranoid, it's just I'v been reading posts and hearing about CC and now I'm kind of freaking out, since I have no idea how I'm going to prevent from getting glutened!

PLEASE HELP!

[Free-CountryGirl]

Alos, I talked to my parents about cc, and how careful i need to be, and how I can't eat the turkey b.c of the stuffing. They flipped out on me, and gave me this talk about how it was all in my head, and that "your greatgrandmother often thought she was sick as well, very dramatic about things", and how we have no family history of celiacs so I can't possibly be celiac. Oh and apparently they know my body as well, b.c my symptoms "arent severe enough", even though they have no idea how I feel because they never ask. ugh! They have no clue! I have been doing so mucgh research, and they have done none! They are making me feel so paranoid...I'm not a hypochondriac. I tried to explain how I'v been having symptoms for years and never realized that stomach pain, bloating, and excessive fatigue weren't normal, and how I only starting doing research until my symptoms became practically unbearable. I know it can't possibly be all in my head, because when I ate peanut butter out of the jar everyone else uses for their sandwhiches the other day, I got horribly sick and exhausted, with a major headache almost immediately. I didn't learn about cc until today, so when I got sick after the peanut butter I couldnt figure out why.

*sigh* I am so sorry for my venting, I guess I'm just very frustrated. Has anyone else had this problem, where other's thought they were making everything up?

Also, a quick question: If my family has pizza, then they touch the tv remote, then I touch the remote, am I safe as long as I dont touch my face, or eat until I wash my hands? Thank you everyone for listening to me freak out!!

[Kimbalou]

See my post about this, too. I am new too, since Friday I have been eating gluten-free. Read someone's response to my questions regarding this....it will help. It's better to eliminate gluten first, then go from there. I don't think it's necessary to walk around in our own plastic bubble with a contamination suit on or something! lol, seriuosly, don't worry too much! Cut out gluten first, then see if you are really that sensitive where you need to be sterile about CC. I think gluten will come off pots and pans in the dishwasher...it's wooden things that may not be good...since gluten might get stuck in the cracks.

Don't worry too much!!

[Free-CountryGirl]

phew! Thanks so much Kimbalou!

[lynnelise]

As for pots and pans, make sure there are absolutely no scratches because gluten can stick in those and you can't clean them out properly. Try buying your own jar of peanut butter and other condiments and labeling it gluten-free so your family doesn't mess with them.

A helpful thing someone used in another thread was think of it as being raw chicken. Would you wash your hands if someone touched raw chicken and then touched the microwave or the remote? Of course. Treat gluten the same way. Sounds overwhelming now but believe me it becomes almost second nature really quick.

[tarnalberry]

gluten may or may not come off in the dishwasher - it is sticky. a good scrubbing with a scouring pad may be more effective in some cases. (this is why we suggest replacing collanders - pasta bits get stuck in the holes, and you can't scrub the inside of the holes. if it's plastic, you can't scrub out the scratches, nor can the dishwasher clean them out effectively.)

there are different levels of cross contamination. picking up flour-y wheat bread for someone, then (without washing your hands) picking up your own food with your hands is going to be distinct contamination that you'd want to avoid. (ditto for putting your food directly on a counter with crumbs.) gluten isn't a pathogen; it doesn't need to be "disinfected". a simple wipe down to remove the flour/crumbs/whatever is sufficient.

but using the same stainless steel utensils that have been thoroughly cleaned is unlikely to provide any contamination risk. to a certain degree, you need to feel this one out for yourself.

[jenngolightly]

As a college student, and when I'm at home, it can be extremely difficult for me to avoid gettign glutened since my household, and obviously college, is not gluten-free. My mom is just starting to understand how severe it can be for me if I eat gluten, and how real of a disease Celiac's is, especially after she read an article in a mag about how eating gluten can affect a celiac's health (such as, a 72% increase in risk for cancer). Anyways, I am such a newbie at going gluten-free, and I really need help on how to avoid cross contamination. I have washed off a few select utensils with boiling hot water and soap then put them away in a baggie and in a place seperate from any gluten, is the boiling hot water enough to kill off any contamination?? Can I get glutened from touching the microwave handle? I washed off the pan I use to scramble my eggs in, in the same way I cleaned off my utensils, is that ok? As for surfaces that are around gluten (countertops) can I still set my plate on them? If not, is using those disinfecting wipes good enough to temporarily remove gluten contamination for that moment so I can set my plate on the table? Also, can I even be in the kitchen while they are using flour for cooking?? How come I can't use the same pots ans pans they use for gluten food if I wash them properly?

I am sorry if I seem so paranoid, it's just I'v been reading posts and hearing about CC and now I'm kind of freaking out, since I have no idea how I'm going to prevent from getting glutened!

PLEASE HELP!

I think it's important to distinguish gluten from a germ. Disinfecting will not "kill" gluten because gluten is not a germ. Gluten must be removed from the scene-of-the-crime in order for you to be safe. Of course, it's always nice to have a disinfected kitchen because god only knows what's been in there. :-) I get grossed out when people make chicken and wipe down the counter with the communal sponge. Setting the bottom of your plate on gluten won't hurt you, but you pick up the plate with your hands - now the gluten is on those - and you eat with those hands - voila! You've gotten cc'd. Same with microwave handle.

This is what I do. I just know that there's gluten everywhere. Those buggers can't be helped. They're on the handles of the fridge and microwave and cupboard handles. So I wash my hands constantly. And I wash those handles, too. Get your dinner plate ready. Set everything out to eat. And go and wash your hands. (Mom's love that anyway.)

Next - You can use the same pots and pans if they have no scratches (I use aluminum and scrub-scrub-scrub). I share the metal mixing spoons. Everything goes in the dishwasher so they get sparkling clean.

Stay far away from flour! It floats. Cover all of your things if your family uses flour in the kitchen. I had the luxury of tossing the regular flour and buying gluten-free flour (but I'm the Mom).

Have a great holiday!

[Free-CountryGirl]

Thank you so SO much jenngolightly and tarnalberry!! You have saved me a lot of confusion, and a lot of stress. Happy Thanksgiving!