Cross Contamination is important as a coeliac!
It is important to know as a coeliac about gluten cross contamination in and out the home. Cross contamination is when gluten comes into contact with your gluten free meal and this can happen without even realising. There are many ways this can occur for example, when toasting your gluten free bread, it may come in contact with gluten crumbs left in the toaster and even tiny amounts of gluten like gluten breadcrumbs may cause your gut symptoms in the short term and gut damage in the longer term. If you are still suffering from symptoms when on a gluten free diet then one reason may be cross contamination.
How to avoid gluten cross contamination?
Eating out can be harder to control but do not be afraid to ask when eating out. At home if possible, have separate areas for food preparation or at least make sure you thoroughly clean the area if you have used gluten containing food beforehand. Ensure you have a separate board, utensils and knives for use with gluten and gluten free food, and use separate butter tubs and separate flour sieves when baking.
Below are some more tips when eating in or out.
Tips for reducing gluten cross contamination
In Home
- Wipe surfaces after preparing foods containing gluten
- Wash hands before handling gluten free foods
- Have separate bread boards, bread knives and toasters for non-gluten free and gluten free use
- If you don’t want a second toaster use toaster bags – these are easily available in supermarkets
- If possible, have separate areas for food preparation
- Use separate butter or margarine tubs as knives can transfer crumbs from regular bread
- Use a separate flour sieves and pasta strainers
- Label your containers with a colour or sign if they contain gluten free food
- If you have enough space, try keeping separate storage spaces for gluten free foods and non gluten free foods – it makes safe food easier and quicker to find!
- Keep gluten free foods at the top of the fridge – this ensures that gluten crumbs from dishes won’t accidently fall into your gluten free food
- Any utensils used in preparing and cooking both gluten free and non gluten free food must be washed thoroughly or have a separate set of utensils/cooking equipment/baking equipment for gluten free use
- Cover the grill pan with foil
- Crumbs can contaminate a meal – don’t waste your delicious food! Be diligent and clean up crumbs and work surfaces straight away
Out of Home
For tips on avoiding gluten cross contamination out the home e.g. in restaurants, travelling on aeroplanes or the car check out our Eating out or travelling gluten free? page in our Coeliac Disease red tab
Check out the list of gluten free restaurants on our website. If you know of any in your area please let us know on the gluten free restaurants page.
