For those diagnosed with celiac disease, even the tiniest amount of gluten can cause
major symptoms and lead to further damage in the small intestine. This means that
going gluten-free extends way beyond the foods you choose to eat to include your
whole living environment: all traces of gluten will need to be removed from your life!
This can seem a fairly daunting prospect and it will require a little thought and
organization but once it’s done, that’s it, and y ou can get on with living your life without
the symptoms that previously prevented you from enjoying it.
The same principle can be applied to those with NCGS or any one choosing to live
a gluten-free lifestyle. Creating a gluten-free home environment is the simplest way
to transition from the old way of life to the new way, and it takes away the potential
for cross-contamination. Kitchen and cooking equipment that has been exposed to
gluten should be replaced with new equipment to eliminate the potential for lingering
flour dust or other sources of gluten to contaminate your gluten-free cooking
ingredients. All food storage and preparation areas in your kitchen will also need to be
thoroughly cleaned to remove all traces of gluten before replacing the following
items.
Replace contaminated kitchen utensils
-Toaster – crumbs from bread containing gluten will contaminate glutenfree
bread.
-Non-stick pots and pans – any scratches on the surface of a non-stick pan
can potentially harbor gluten and therefore contaminate any gluten-free
foods y ou cook in them. Stainless steel or solid aluminum pots and pans
provide useful alternatives as they are safe for use in a mixed cooking
household provided they are cleaned well after exposure to foods
containing gluten.
-Non-stick muffin tins and silicone baking sheets – as with pots and pans, non-stick surfaces can become scratched with use and must therefore be
replaced to avoid cross-contamination. Stainless steel tins that are not
overly scratched can be used safely provided they are well cleaned after
exposure to gluten.
-Cast iron pans and woks – any porous material can potentially harbor
gluten and the surfaces of cast iron pans are very porous.
-Wooden cutting boards, wooden spoons, and wooden rolling pins – the
naturally porous nature of wood makes it another potential harbor for
gluten.
-Plastic spatula – plastic or silicone utensils used for scraping bowls or
turning food generally become scratched with use and should be replaced.
-Colander – even stainless steel colanders should be replaced as the tiny
holes are impossible to clean thoroughly once they have been used to
drain spaghetti or any other food containing gluten.
-Plastic bowls – as with plastic utensils, the surface of plastic bowls or
storage containers can become scratched with use and therefore harbor
gluten.
-Flour sifter – a dedicated flour sifter for gluten-free flour is an essential
in y our kitchen as any sifter that has been used for wheat, barley or ry e
flour will have a gluten residue that’s virtually impossible to clean away .
Accidental cross-contamination is most likely to occur in y our kitchen or any
food preparation area but other areas of your home also need careful consideration.
Gluten is present in many cosmetics and hair products and there is the potential for
accidental ingestion through toothpastes, lipsticks and lip balms in particular. A careful
study of labels may or may not help you to identify the presence of gluten so when in
doubt, contact the manufacturers directly to find out exactly what each product
contains. Gluten-free ranges of skin and hair care products are now becoming more
readily available so it may be advisable to re-stock your entire bathroom cabinet just
to make sure.
Another consideration is that gluten is present in many dietary supplements and
prescription medications. Again, close inspection of the label is needed in the case of
supplements and when in doubt, call the manufacturer. If you are in need of
prescribed medication, you can ask your doctor to request gluten-free brands for you, and always ask for professional advice from your pharmacist when purchasing over
the counter medications.
