Contamination On Food Boxes

[IrishHeart]

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

How 'bout that--mine too!

[StephanieL]

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.

lol

You forgot those little crumbs bouncing into the vents of oncoming cars and into the A/C and all over the person with Celiac driving in a great gluten filled cloud!

[NickMcKinnis]

lol

You forgot those little crumbs bouncing into the vents of oncoming cars and into the A/C and all over the person with Celiac driving in a great gluten filled cloud!

Great, now I'm going to have nightmares about an onslaught of chicken nuggets...

[Jestgar]

I just wanted to take a minute to validate the captain's comments.

For some people, at certain stages in their healing, loved ones going completely gluten-free may just be the best support they could ask for. Also, many people here ask friends and family to take (what would seem to an outsider) crazy precautions. You could see the whole 'frozen food boxes' thing as paranoia, or the request of someone who is trying to figure out what's making them sick and is trying to cover all bases.

The OP did the best thing, she found out if the precaution was necessary before agreeing to do it. If her family isn't yet ready to accept that, and is still in the frame of mind that the captain presents, maybe she can come up with some compromise that will work for both.

[Juliebove]

Using their logic, anything anywhere could have gluten on it. I could eat a sandwich then go touch something without washing my hands. But a prepared product in a sealed package? I wouldn't worry about it.

[IrishHeart]

For some people, at certain stages in their healing, loved ones going completely gluten-free may just be the best support they could ask for. Also, many people here ask friends and family to take (what would seem to an outsider) crazy precautions. You could see the whole 'frozen food boxes' thing as paranoia, or the request of someone who is trying to figure out what's making them sick and is trying to cover all bases.

Jess is right. I think none of us would disagree that we always hope ( and some of even demand it) that the GEs in our lives will take precautions around us.

I hope we have given the OP an answer that she and her family can work with. Maybe now, her celiac family will see that a frozen packaged item wrapped in a plastic bag in the trunk of her car will not be any more of a cross contamination issue than any other packaged items touching their packaged items on the grocery store shelves.

(with the exception of those leaky Gold Medal flour bags....now, those things make me shudder )

[squirmingitch]

As my grocery store is not exactly immaculate in the cleanliness dept. & I almost always see a layer or dust & who knows what on top of the canned goods; I make it a habit to rinse off the lids before opening anything. Besides the obvious, it's just good hygiene.

[Pac]

As my grocery store is not exactly immaculate in the cleanliness dept. & I almost always see a layer or dust & who knows what on top of the canned goods; I make it a habit to rinse off the lids before opening anything. Besides the obvious, it's just good hygiene.

I wash everything I can and I am quite paranoid about gluten (I am allergic and gluten in the air and on the surfaces seems to bother me more than traces of gluten in my food), but I honestly wouldn't worry about packaged food in the car, especially when I'm not in the car at the same time. There is so much low-level contamination everywhere - door handles, chairs, packaged gluten-free food, that a box of packages gluten food just won't make any difference.

[NickMcKinnis]

This seems to be a pretty complicated topic... I think any situation where you have to balance feelings and fact can be difficult. Plus the problem is one that makes it hard to know exactly where the line is. So just keep it simple and remember your final goal... The health and happiness of you and your loved ones. If you can all keep that in mind and keep the communication open then I am sure that you will be able to find the balance you are all looking for.

Good luck OP!

[anabananakins]

Great, now I'm going to have nightmares about an onslaught of chicken nuggets...

lol Stephanie, that's even better, I was just thinking about people being hit on the head.

Welcome Nick and sorry

[NickMcKinnis]

Welcome Nick and sorry

Haha, thank you and no sorry necessary. It's good to have a little fear now and then.

[IrishHeart]

Haha, thank you and no sorry necessary. It's good to have a little fear now and then.

methinks Nick "gets our humor" and will fit right in here.

[squirmingitch]

methinks Nick "gets our humor" and will fit right in here.

Methinks me agrees.

[NickMcKinnis]

methinks Nick "gets our humor" and will fit right in here.

Methinks me agrees.

Methinks you ladies are making me blush.

You ARE ladies right?

[IrishHeart]

Methinks me agrees.

well, of course you would, darlin!!

You have a big heart, a sense of humor and a spirit that soars above all adversity.

[Lisa]

This seems to be a pretty complicated topic... I think any situation where you have to balance feelings and fact can be difficult. Plus the problem is one that makes it hard to know exactly where the line is. So just keep it simple and remember your final goal... The health and happiness of you and your loved ones. If you can all keep that in mind and keep the communication open then I am sure that you will be able to find the balance you are all looking for.

Good luck OP!

Good advise offered to the OP, Nick. I think we have totally covered all the bases.

[squirmingitch]

Methinks you ladies are making me blush.

You ARE ladies right?

We ARE ladies Nick!

[IrishHeart]

Methinks you ladies are making me blush.

You ARE ladies right?

I am a woman, yes. "Lady"--um, doubtful. I would not mess with me.

[NickMcKinnis]

I am a woman, yes. "Lady"--um, doubtful. I would not mess with me.

haha Growing up I lived with or next door to my mom, my aunt, my grandmother, three female cousins and my grandfather...I learned young not to underestimate a woman, as I'm sure my grandfather must have to have survived.

I can still recall the horrors of forgetting to put down the toilet seat...

[IrishHeart]

I can still recall the horrors of forgetting to put down the toilet seat...

Good.

[squirmingitch]

LOL! Well, Irish can be what she wants. As for me, I'm jest a lil ol' southun belle who wouldn't hurt a fly.

[IrishHeart]

LOL! Well, Irish can be what she wants. As for me, I'm jest a lil ol' southun belle who wouldn't hurt a fly.

Bulloney!...if I were in a fight tomorrow, I'd want you as my wing man. I know you're a scrappy lil thing!!

but we are really, really HIGHJACKING this thread --so we need to FOCUS and stay ON TOPIC----and we need to ask the OP if her question was answered??

O P? well??

[heidi b]

Yes, my question was answered. Thanks for all your input.

[Lisa]

Yes, my question was answered. Thanks for all your input.

...and then some!

[FoodisLife12]

On another note, does your family's fear about gluten affect your habits when dining out? Do you even get to go out? Or have you adapted your lifestyle to accommodate the rest of your loved ones? If so, the possibility still exists for all of you to enjoy eating out a restaurant every once in a while. Most places, reputable ones anyway, will accommodate any food allergy/dietary restrictions.