Cross contamination.

[pretender]

Is it such a big issue, how does it affect you?

[pretender]

I have yet to have an issue with cross contamination since my second diagnosis 2007. Three times with catering pack chips ( ingredient and not double checking an item) so not doing badly at all. Never glutened in 45 years when on normal foods and catering for 45 on a minehunter.

[Penel]

I think I have had a problem with cross contamination twice in the last ten years.

Staff in two cafes gave vague responses when I asked about gluten, I really should have gone elsewhere but was with friends and stayed. Although the meals didn’t containe any gluten ingredients, I guess contamination occurred in the kitchen. It’s difficult to be absolutely sure.

[Zoe26w]

My daughter has had issues with cross contamination, luckily she witnessed it so was saved the aftermath. She was eating in a restaurant and when they brought her food out she stated she had requested the chicken without the roll (can’t remember what type of fancy bread it was but anyway) she reminded the waitress that she ordered the gluten free version so the waitress apologised and walked back to the kitchen, luckily my daughter followed her and could see the chef then remove the bread and replace the contents onto the plate. Obviously my daughter said she would not be able to eat it. I made her contact head office as anyone in any catering business should know better. At home we have separate cutting boards,knives,utensils and even cupboards. We also have separate food items like butter etc to avoid the accidental risk of cross contamination. She is extremely sensitive so it makes life easier to be super strict. She’s 19 and her initial illness was very sudden. She also has ME and fibromyalgia so not often too sure which symptoms are related to which.

[Mitch55]

Yep, I've been glutened a few times while eating out and about. I try to get back to the management with positive feedback on how to cut the incidences. Mostly it was down to a lack of understanding of the 'one crumb' thing. It's important to tell them when it goes wrong.

[MapleMamma]

Well I was in hospital for a week several months ago. An elderly lady was admitted in my bay and she also lives with coeliac disease. The second time that I had ordered the roast beef (GF of course) I was presented with a dish that had a Yorkshire pudding on it. I queried this immediately saying that the first time I had this dish, there was no Yorkshire pudding in it but the nursing assistant assured me that this had come up from the kitchen bla bla bla. I then insisted and she went to check the packaging. Lo and behold it was in fact a regular meal. In the week I also had my partner visiting when one evening the trolley came by and the elderly lady was asked if she wanted toast and tea, which she did. I was not paying attention but my partner quickly said 'Didn't you say she was a coeliac?' To which I pointed this out and guess what? The woman had assumed her condition was known and it was not GF.

How can we trust anyone if the NHS can't even get it right?

Also of note is my conversations with this woman's daughter who actually didn't know that she and her siblings would do well to be tested.

Frankly I worry about eating out and cross contamination. Only been glutened once and that was enough for me.

[Whydothis]

I have found that even cross contamination that hasn't caused symptoms is enough to affect a blood test, and is therefore still causing damage, or at least preventing healing of the original damage. It is making me even more cautious about eating out