Cross-Contamination of Gluten in Restaurants

Cross-contamination of gluten in restaurants


Those with celiac disease and gluten intolerance must be extra careful when dining out. Cross-contamination of gluten can happen in any restaurant.I was eating out for breakfast in a very nice restaurant recently and came very close to eating food that was cross-contaminated. I ordered scrambled eggs and a side of fresh fruit. I asked the waitress to bring the eggs without the toast and fried potatoes that it came with. I told her that I am gluten intolerant. She appeared to understand my request. When the food arrived the eggs were on a plate with the toast and the potatoes. The fruit was in a separate dish. I began to feel frustrated and upset. I called over the waitress and told her that this was not what I had ordered. She replied, “I can take the bread and the potatoes off of the plate for you.” I almost said “OK”. After some thought I realized that even if she removed these glutinous foods there still might be some bread crumbs remaining on the plate. I could end up ingesting them when eating my eggs. This possibility was too risky for me so I asked her to make me a completely new plate of scrambled eggs. It is so important to pay attention to details when dining out in any restaurant to make sure that your meal is gluten-free.