Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Contamination On Food Boxes

heidi b

Recommended Posts

heidi b Rookie
heidi b
Posted

I am the only non-celiac in our family. Our house is gluten-free. I would like to buy gluten-containing frozen meals on my way to work for my lunches. Other members of the family think there could be gluten on the outside of the food box or that some crumbs might spill out in a wreck. I think that if I keep the food boxes tied up inside a bag while it is in the car that the car should still be safe for the celiacs to ride in. What do you think?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


  • Replies 53
  • Created
  • Last Reply
rosetapper23 Explorer
rosetapper23
Posted

I think you are very conscientious...and that your celiacs are all safe. Just my own opinion....

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

I'm celiac and I ride in my friends' cars all the time without worrying about gluten from their groceries. I don't see any issue.

captaincrab55 Collaborator
captaincrab55
Posted

I am the only non-celiac in our family. Our house is gluten-free. I would like to buy gluten-containing frozen meals on my way to work for my lunches. Other members of the family think there could be gluten on the outside of the food box or that some crumbs might spill out in a wreck. I think that if I keep the food boxes tied up inside a bag while it is in the car that the car should still be safe for the celiacs to ride in. What do you think?

IMHO, Show some LOVE for family members and honor their requests... Gluten most likely isn't any good for you either...

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

I do not see how FROZEN meals, packed inside a plastic bag could possibly have any "loose gluten" on the outside of the package.

I honestly think there is no need to worry about it.

Keep them in a plastic bag in the trunk--if that would make them feel better.

We sometimes purchase gluten-filled groceries for an elderly aunt all the time, and I have no issues whatsoever from it and I am very sensitive to trace gluten.

Her frozen lean cuisines (gasp) even touch my stuff!!! :)

I would not be inclined to pick up a bag of wheat flour for her, however, as those tend to leak. (Nor would she ask me to.)

And finally, if your car is "in a wreck", your frozen meals possibly opening up and spilling out--is the least of your worries.

Your family is right to be cautious about CC, but in this case, they are being unnecessarily overly-fearful. IMHO

Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted

IMHO, Show some LOVE for family members and honor their requests... Gluten most likely isn't any good for you either...

Talk about guilting people into being overly compliant when there isn't any issue! This has nothing to do with love and not everyone has a problem with gluten. If the food is being carried in a bag from the grocery store, there is no issue at all.

Have some common sense people! <_<

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Talk about guilting people into being overly compliant when there isn't any issue! This has nothing to do with love and not everyone has a problem with gluten. If the food is being carried in a bag from the grocery store, there is no issue at all.

Have some common sense people! <_<

I agree! I would think her family buys food from a grocery. Or TP from a Walmart. Do they wash every bag and package before they take it in thier car?I suspect the family just wants to guilt the OP into eating gluten-free away from home. Perhaps they suspect that's for the OP's own good?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

Talk about guilting people into being overly compliant when there isn't any issue! This has nothing to do with love and not everyone has a problem with gluten. If the food is being carried in a bag from the grocery store, there is no issue at all.

Have some common sense people! <_<

The "in a wreck and gluten spilling out" is really over-the-top. I agree with you that capitulating to this and not buying frozen food for work (that isn't even stored in the freezer) is enabling overly fearful behavior. We're in places with gluten all the time like grocery stores, our workplace where people eat bagels and donuts, friends' homes, restaurants, and cars. None of these situations pose any risk unless we're eating the food. (Give or take RARE allergic or anxiety reactions in the bread aisle.) It's important be realistic about what can cause issues for someone with celiac like getting crumbs in the butter, compared to safe things like transporting a boxed frozen dinner in a bag to work. To be completely honest, it occurred to me to wonder how your family would even know?

Heck, last time my picky nephews visited they wanted waffles and I didn't want normal Bisquik in the kitchen. I bought Eggos, kept them in the freezer, cooked them in the toaster oven, and put the toaster oven rack through the dishwasher afterwards. No big deal and I didn't get CC'd. You just have to use common sense.

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

I tried so hard not use the word "paranoid" in my first reply, but since everyone else is chiming in here...what the heck.

They are being paranoid!!!

We do not know why you are not gluten-free like the rest of your family (and it is none of our business either) but do not let them push you around with guilt, honey.

I was trying to picture any scenario where possible gluten from a frozen meal could harm me as I ride in your car, even if we had a car crash, :rolleyes: and having it somehow magically open, defrost, then spill onto the seat and then what? absorb into my butt?? or by some bizarre twist of fate ---fly into mouth?? Ain't gonna happen.

captaincrab55 Collaborator
captaincrab55
Posted

Talk about guilting people into being overly compliant when there isn't any issue! This has nothing to do with love and not everyone has a problem with gluten. If the food is being carried in a bag from the grocery store, there is no issue at all.

Have some common sense people! <_<

Gemini, Do you know what IMHO means??? After suffering with undiagnosed Celiac & DH for 50 plus years, I can call it LOVE.... Some here may not respect my IMHO either, but so be it... Some here haven't suffered enough either... I say, Spread the Love to Family Members...

squirmingitch Veteran
squirmingitch
Posted

Have the gluten-free family members ever considered gluten hands touching gluten-free canned goods in the store? Ooooooooo maybe they need to walk around wearing disposable medical gloves so they don't touch anything that gluten hands have touched. Or how about bags of flour breaking & spilling in the store room of the food warehouse or the grocery store back room & flour dust settling on everything in there? Maybe the gluten-free ought to live in a bubble like bubble boy on Seinfeld. Am I being over the top? YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To the OP, WHATEVER you do, don't DARE mention the scenarios I just put forth --- they are likely to go to those lengths to protect themselves.

I stand with everyone except captaincrab. Take your frozen meals in the bag in the car. The celiacs in your family are being ridiculous.

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

Gemini, Do you know what IMHO means??? After suffering with undiagnosed Celiac & DH for 50 plus years, I can call it LOVE.... Some here may not respect my IMHO either, but so be it... Some here haven't suffered enough either... I say, Spread the Love to Family Members...

When I first read the post I was reminded of a friend with OCD I used to help. She was obsessed with the possibility of germs on food boxes and when she shopped she would wear gloves, line the shopping cart with bags, wipe off the conveyer belt at the checkout, and double-bag all her food. She wanted me to do the same when I shopped for her. Her therapist told me shop the way I do for myself and NOT lie to her that I was doing these crazy things. (I was lying to simply get food into her apartment; this woman was severely disabled.) The problem is, if we agree to irrational and fearful requests, we continue to enable and encourage the fear. That's not an act of love. That's lazy and destructive and doesn't allow the people around us to face their fears and grow out of them.

There is NO DANGER to a person with celiac putting a frozen dinner in a bag in the car on the way to work. Period. It's pure irrational fear and the family member who is worried about this really needs a firm and loving reality check. It's stressful enough avoiding situations where there is a real danger of being glutened; creating danger out of safe situations will be detrimental to this person's mental health in the long term.

captaincrab55 Collaborator
captaincrab55
Posted

When I first read the post I was reminded of a friend with OCD I used to help. She was obsessed with the possibility of germs on food boxes and when she shopped she would wear gloves, line the shopping cart with bags, wipe off the conveyer belt at the checkout, and double-bag all her food. She wanted me to do the same when I shopped for her. Her therapist told me shop the way I do for myself and NOT lie to her that I was doing these crazy things. (I was lying to simply get food into her apartment; this woman was severely disabled.) The problem is, if we agree to irrational and fearful requests, we continue to enable and encourage the fear. That's not an act of love. That's lazy and destructive and doesn't allow the people around us to face their fears and grow out of them.

There is NO DANGER to a person with celiac putting a frozen dinner in a bag in the car on the way to work. Period. It's pure irrational fear and the family member who is worried about this really needs a firm and loving reality check. It's stressful enough avoiding situations where there is a real danger of being glutened; creating danger out of safe situations will be detrimental to this person's mental health in the long term.

GOOD, GREAT, but One can do things for the LOVE of family members... REMENBER, I did Post IMHO.... They could do it for Family or just move out.... IMHO....
bartfull Rising Star
bartfull
Posted

And the FAMILY MEMBERS can do things for the LOVE of the OP - like allowing him/her to eat foods containing gluten when there is NO CHANCE of contaminating THEM.

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

GOOD, GREAT, but One can do things for the LOVE of family members... REMENBER, I did Post IMHO.... They could do it for Family or just move out.... IMHO....

She probably does lots of things for the love of her family, but

transporting a sealed up box of frozen food in her car does not

mean she does not love them.

Suggesting she move out? Now, that's completely over the top here, Capt. Why does she have to do that? Lots of people co-exist safely with GEs.

Come on, now. Let's be reasonable. :)

Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted

Gemini, Do you know what IMHO means??? After suffering with undiagnosed Celiac & DH for 50 plus years, I can call it LOVE.... Some here may not respect my IMHO either, but so be it... Some here haven't suffered enough either... I say, Spread the Love to Family Members...

If you are going to offer up your IMHO, then be prepared to receive comments. Are you saying that just because you throw that in, I can't make a comment back? Poppycock! Again...new Celiacs need to know this is not an issue. There is no love of family if they are trying to manipulate and guilt another family member into eating "their way". Don't confuse love with control freak behavior.

anabananakins Explorer
anabananakins
Posted

My overactive imagination has conjured up an image of a terrible accident with a chicken nugget delivery truck that left billions of those little frozen crumbed morsels bouncing all over the highway like ping pong balls.

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Gemini, Do you know what IMHO means??? After suffering with undiagnosed Celiac & DH for 50 plus years, I can call it LOVE.... Some here may not respect my IMHO either, but so be it... Some here haven't suffered enough either... I say, Spread the Love to Family Members...

But she's not taking it into the home, or eating it infront of them or eating it in the car. It sounds a bit controling on the family's part that she can't eat gluten when she isn't home. Unless they are rifing with her, they wouldn't even know she had the Lean Cuisine or microwave pizza.

Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

Since you won't be bringing any gluten into the house I don't see how it's anyone else's business. Honestly, how will they know? And frankly if you are in a wreck that is bad enough to cause your frozen meals to pop open and spill all over your car you have a lot more problems than gluten. I thought I was paranoid but holy crap... do they make you strip naked and deposit your clothes in the garbage can outside if you stopped at McDonald's while you were out? Really though, even if there were somehow CC in your car as long as they aren't licking the seats I don't really see it being a problem.

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

Wow, so Heidi please don't think we're all wanting to fight with other when you read this. :blink: I notice you're new here and I didn't even welcome you. Welcome to board. Feelings run a little high when it comes to how careful you have to be about gluten. We're usually a much more laid-back bunch!

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

Well, we are a passionate bunch and the majority of us have told her the frozen items in a bag in the trunk should pose no problem.

Heidi, a bunch of passionate celiacs think it's cool to transport your food in your car. Please tell your family we do not think it's a CC issue.

Hope this helps!!

yes.... and welcome to the Forum!!!!!! :D

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted

Wow, so Heidi please don't think we're all wanting to fight with other when you read this. :blink: I notice you're new here and I didn't even welcome you. Welcome to board. Feelings run a little high when it comes to how careful you have to be about gluten. We're usually a much more laid-back bunch!

Well said! :D

NickMcKinnis Rookie
NickMcKinnis
Posted

I was trying to picture any scenario where possible gluten from a frozen meal could harm me as I ride in your car, even if we had a car crash, :rolleyes: and having it somehow magically open, defrost, then spill onto the seat and then what? absorb into my butt?? or by some bizarre twist of fate ---fly into mouth?? Ain't gonna happen.

I almost died laughing over this post. Thank you for your wisdom and hilarity.

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

I almost died laughing over this post. Thank you for your wisdom and hilarity.

You betcha. ;) Gotta keep these things in perspective. yes? Yes.

I see you're "new-ish" too, Nick. Welcome to the Forum!!!

NickMcKinnis Rookie
NickMcKinnis
Posted

You betcha. ;) Gotta keep these things in perspective. yes? Yes.

I see you're "new-ish" too, Nick. Welcome to the Forum!!!

Indeed, and thank you very much! This is not only my first Celiac forum, but my first forum ever!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. marlene333
      - marlene333 replied to Grace Good's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      3

      Bee balm lipbalm not gluten free

      To play it safe, use Vasoline Lip Therapy. No questions as to it containing gluten.
    2. Mari
      - Mari replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      4

      Related issues

      jmartes, Thank you for sharing more information with us. Most of us Celiacs whose problems do not clear up with in a few years have to decide what to do next. We can keep seeing DR.s and hope that we will get some medication or advice that will improve our health. Or we can go looking for other ways to improve our health. Usually Celiac Disease is...
    3. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to catsrlife's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      4

      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      It's unfortunate that they won't work with you on this, but in the end sometimes we have to take charge of our own health--which is exactly what happened to me. I did finally get the tests done, but only after years of going down various rabbit holes and suffering. Just quitting gluten may be the best path for you at this point.
    4. catsrlife
      - catsrlife replied to catsrlife's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      4

      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      My doctor didn't take the time to listen to anything. I don't even think she knows what it means. She is more concerned about my blood pressure that is caused by her presence than anything else and just wants to push pills at me. The so-called dermatologist wouldn't do a skin test. she prescribed all of these silly antihistamine skin meds. This lady...
    5. Jmartes71
      - Jmartes71 replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      4

      Related issues

      I had the test done by one of the specialist through second pcp I had only a few months because he was saying I wasn't.Even though Im positive HLA-DQ2 .My celiac is down played.I am with new pcp, seeing another girl doctor who wants to do another breathe test next month though Im positive sibo this year.I have high blood pressure not sure if its pain from...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,261
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Pbaentine
    Newest Member
    Pbaentine
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • marlene333
      Bee balm lipbalm not gluten free

      By marlene333 · Posted

      To play it safe, use Vasoline Lip Therapy. No questions as to it containing gluten.
    • Mari
      Related issues

      By Mari · Posted

      jmartes, Thank you for sharing  more information with us. Most of us Celiacs whose problems do not clear up with in a few years have to decide what to do next. We can keep seeing DR.s and hope that we will get some  medication or advice that will improve our health. Or we can go looking for other ways to improve our health. Usually Celiac Disease is not a killer disease, it is a disabling disease as  you have found out. You have time to find some ways to help you recover. Stay on your gluten-free diet and be more careful in avoiding cross contamination . KnittyKitty  and others here can give you advice about avoiding some foods that can give you the gluten auto immune reaction and advice about vitamins and supplement that help celiacs. You may need to take higher doses of Vit. B12  and D3.  About 20 years before a Dr. suggested I might have Celiac disease I had health problems that all other Dr said they could not identify or treat. I was very opposed to alternative providers and treatments. So many people were getting help from a local healer I decided to try that out. It was a little helpful but then, because I had a good education in medical laboraties she gave me a book  to read and what did I think. With great skeptism I started reading and before I was half way through it I began using the methods outlined in the book. Using those herbs and supplements I went from hardly able to work to being able to work almost fulltime. I still use that program. But because I had undiagnosed celiac disease by 10 years later some  of my problems returned and I started to loose weight.    So how does a person find a program that will benefit them? Among the programs you can find online there are many that are snake oil scams and some that will be beneficial. by asking around, as I did. Is there an ND in your area? Do they reccomend that person? If you would like to read about the program I use go to www.drclark.net   
    • Scott Adams
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      It's unfortunate that they won't work with you on this, but in the end sometimes we have to take charge of our own health--which is exactly what happened to me. I did finally get the tests done, but only after years of going down various rabbit holes and suffering. Just quitting gluten may be the best path for you at this point.
    • catsrlife
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By catsrlife · Posted

      My doctor didn't take the time to listen to anything. I don't even think she knows what it means. She is more concerned about my blood pressure that is caused by her presence than anything else and just wants to push pills at me. The so-called dermatologist wouldn't do a skin test. she prescribed all of these silly antihistamine skin meds. This lady didn't even know what she was talking about and said "they never turn out as celiac, they usually just say it's dermatitis so here's your meds," just like my regular quack. I'm trying to change insurance companies at the moment and that has been a battle because of red tape, wrong turns, and workers having wrong phone numbers. What a joke! The allergy blood days say I have a wheat allergy of .31. Hopefully it's just that and until I find a decent doctor and dermatologist, I'll just lay off the wheat anyway, since it gives me asthma, high blood sugar, and joint pain. So frustrated at this point. The rash on my back of arms/elbows is mostly gone. Both calves and chest have started up. smh. It comes and goes. It fades faster now, though, although my forearms still produce one or two bumps on each side. The itching has calmed down a lot except for the bump area. I have dry skin to begin with so anything affecting it just makes it crazy. i'm never going to eat wheat again. I don't care if they need it to produce results or if it is just an intolerance, allergy, or celiac. It gives me hell.
    • Jmartes71
      Related issues

      By Jmartes71 · Posted

      I had the test done by one of the specialist through second pcp I had only a few months because he was saying I wasn't.Even though Im positive HLA-DQ2 .My celiac is down played.I am with new pcp, seeing another girl doctor who wants to do another breathe test next month though Im positive sibo this year.I have high blood pressure not sure if its pain from sciatica or sibo, ibs or hidden gluten. Im in disability limbo and I should have never been a bus driver because im still suffering and trying to heal with zero income except for my husband. This isnt fare that my health is dictating my living and having ti beg for being revalidation of my disregarded celiac disease. Its an emotional roller coaster I don't want to be on and the medical made it worse.New pcp new gi, exhausted, tired and really fed up. GI doctor NOT girl..
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.