I’m not a big headed person. In fact, I usually assume that I know pretty much nothing about anything and what I do know is probably wrong, but when it comes to nuts, allergies and cross-contamination issues I thought I had it pretty much covered.
Until I read something in a magazine called “Outlook”. Outlook is the magazine for The Anaphylaxis Campaign. The Anaphylaxis Campaign have been brilliant in so many ways – when I was an allergy newbie they were there with information, they helped me realise that I wasn’t the only mother in the world dealing with an allergy as severe as the boy’s and they are constantly looking over my shoulder for me, issuing alerts about foods that are being withdrawn either because they’ve been incorrectly labelled or because they’ve somehow been contaminated by an allergen.
It seems that I don’t know quite as much as I thought I did. This is a Q&A in the last issue of Outlook that I received.
Q I have a peanut and nut allergy and at home my brother and family eat crunchy nut type cereals. My parents ensure I have my own bowl, but I’m worried that nuts from the other bowls will contaminate mine.
A. Cruncy nut type cereals have quite a lot of nut/peanut protein in them, so there’s a real risk that the cereal bowls containing them and the spoons used, would have a significant amount of protein left when they’re washed up. This protein will end up in the water and could potentially contaminate other crockery and cutlery. If other family members are eating nutty foods regularly, I would suggest having your own set of crockery and cutlery and washing them separately in a fresh bowl of soapy water. I would also use your ‘own’ tea towel.
(“Reproduced from “Allergy Aunt”, Outlook 48, the magazine for members of The Anaphylaxis Campaign, Copyright 2010. Used with permission”)
We are a nut free house but occassionally when the kids are in bed, or having a sleepover at their grandparents, the husband and I have a sneaky curry. I had even been relaxed enough about his allergy lately to think about having a chinese at home, maybe a chicken satay to start. Well, that’s knocked that idea on the head.
I wonder if I’ll ever stop being surprised at the sneakiness of peanut protein. I wonder if I’ll ever feel like it’s not my job to protect him anymore. He’s going to hate me when he’s 40 and I’m still asking him if he’s got his epipens and is he sure about where and how his food was prepared.
Eeek! Well, when you’re next up here I will make you my chicken satay, it’s the best!
*hugs*
what a nightmare.
hope you didn’t mind me sending you the latest member of the nut free team. You’ll need to start charging me ;<)
x
Oh wow, nasty nasty peanut protein!
Oh my! Who knew such things? I have never had reason to think about them. This is pretty eye opening. I never would have realized that there would be danger of cross contamination from utensils!
Eek!
madness – when can you ever stop asking those questions? Probably never – you are a mother – nagging your son about things he already knows is your job
I’ve never had that confirmed til now but Gawd yeah!
We do have the odd sneaky curry when Andrew is sleeping over at his mates and you want to see how daft I get with disinfectant afterwards. We only ever eat curries from our coloured pasta plates, we have one each and each is a different colour and hell mend anyone who touches Andrew’s blue one with anything other than Andrew safe food.
Even if we have eaten something with the ubiquitous “May contain…” we wash our plates and utensils last and sometimes even twice… then I throw out the scourer and spray the whole sink with dettol.
You DO get used to this, honest
This is scary reading. My OT has to have an epipen for severe wasp sting allergy – he is a professional gardener……
It seems next time there is a sleep over somewhere – you will just have to go out to dinner!
I don’t really like curry so that would be ok but chinese takeaway I love love. I think I would have to have a lockable cupboard with washing up bowl, cutlery etc. just for the odd one. It would be the not being able to have one that would make me crave one so much.
By the way the worrying never goes. Imagine me with my 18 year old announcing he is going to Hyde Park to a concert overnight. He has epilepsy. Have you got your tablets, drink water, wear your medical tag thingy bla bla bla… and the rest. no it never goes. I just go greyer. But one does learn to be more assertive in a good way as the years go on.
Take care
didn’t mean OT meant OH!