Celiac disease sufferers have a long list of foods to avoid, but beyond those there is still the concern for cross contamination.  Many who suffer from celiac disease are sensitive enough that even a crumb of wheat can produce a miserable reaction that can leave them sick for days. It is important to understand how to deal with cross contamination if you have celiac disease to prevent mishaps from occurring.

In the home you will want to remove all gluten foods from your storage areas, wash down shelves and clean floors, to be sure any residue is removed. If you do not plan to have a completely gluten free home, then you will need to find a separate storage place for your gluten free foods altogether.

If your home is not a dedicated gluten free environment, there are a number of precautions you should make.  All jams and condiments should be clearly labeled, with separate containers stored on a separate shelf for the gluten free individual. There should be a separate toaster for gluten free foods only.

All food preparations should be carefully monitored, with gluten free foods prepared first in a clean environment, and regular foods prepared only after the gluten free foods are done. Everything should be washed very thoroughly after foods containing gluten have been prepared, this includes counters, utensils, appliances, and the inside of your microwave.

Any tools that are porous should not be used for both gluten and gluten free, and should be kept in separate drawers; these usually include cutting boards, knives, and wooden utensils. An even better solution is to replace any equipment that is wood or other porous materials with marble, or stainless steel.

Also keep in mind that flour particles can remain in the air for up to 24 hours, so take great care when doing any baking that contains wheat flour, most families opt to remove wheat flour from their home completely for this reason.

When dining out, you will need to make the staff aware of your celiac disease, and the need to prepare your food in a clean environment. Most staff are very receptive to your needs and will have no problem fulfilling your request.

When purchasing baked goods that are gluten free, it is particularly important to verify that the bakery they are made in is a dedicated gluten free environment.  This means that all equipment, preparation surfaces and ovens are used only to prepare gluten free foods. It is the safest and best way to guarantee that you will not have a reaction caused from cross contamination.