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. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens. I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium. I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells. When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly. This is safe...
    2. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency. I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hello, @Jane02, I take Naturewise D 3. It contains olive oil. Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets. Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking. Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the...
    4. Scott Adams
      0

      Penobscot Bay, Maine: Nurturing Gluten-Free Wellness Retreat with expert celiac dietitian, Melinda Dennis

      until
      Hello! Join me and treat yourself to a four-day, three-night restorative gluten-free retreat in a peaceful, private coastal retreat setting near Penobscot Bay in Maine. Dates: April 10-13, 2026 Enjoy engaging classes...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,329
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    klkarius
    Newest Member
    klkarius
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
×
×
  • 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.