Many think that we can have an allergen-free meal just by avoiding certain ingredients. However, it is not as simple as it is considered. It needs a complete kitchen environment to be suitable for an allergen-free meal.
So, which step would prevent cross-contact when preparing an allergen-free meal? In this article, we are going to explore the same question. Let’s get into it in detail and see how to prepare a meal that does not have even a trace of allergens.
What is Cross-Contact?
Cross-contact refers to the situation when an allergen gets into allergen-free food by accident and makes it allergic as well. It can be in a negligible quantity, but it can still be harmful for the person who is allergic to that allergen.
Cross-contact does not mean bacteria and other harmful microbes getting into the food. It means that a certain utensil or tools are used to handle both allergen-free and allergic food. For example, if the same spoon is used to stir two foods, the chances of cross-contact may increase.
Major Food Allergens
As knowledge is power, knowing common allergens is essential in order to avoid them. It not only helps in an industrial setting but at home as well. Below mentioned ingredients are responsible for all the major food-based allergies. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are nine ingredients:
- Milk
- Eggs
- Peanuts
- Nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts, cashews)
- Soy
- Wheat
- Fish
- Shellfish (e.g., shrimp, crab, lobster)
- Sesame
Major Food Allergens
| Allergen | Common Foods That Contain It |
| Milk | Cheese, butter, yogurt, cream, baked goods |
| Eggs | Mayonnaise, pasta, cakes, sauces |
| Peanuts | Peanut butter, candy, baked goods |
| Tree Nuts | Almonds, walnuts, cashews, nut oils |
| Soy | Soy milk, tofu, soy sauce, protein bars |
| Wheat | Bread, pasta, cereals, flour |
| Fish | Tuna, salmon, anchovies, fish sauce |
| Shellfish | Shrimp, crab, lobster, prawns |
| Sesame | Tahini, hummus, sesame oil, buns |
Types of Cross-Contact
Usually, there are three main ways in which cross-contact may occur. These are as follows:
Food to Food
Food to food-is the most common cross-contact in which an allergen-free food comes in direct contact with the allergen food. For example, if you fry food in the same oil, the allergens may be left behind in the oil and will seep into the other food that you fry.
Tools to Food
It is another common type of cross-contamination in which the same tools or utensils are used to process and handle allergic and allergen-free food. For example, if you use the same frying pan or spatula for both types of food, you may accidentally mix things up.
People to Food
People to food is a scenario where cross-contamination takes place by people. For example, if a person remained in contact with food that had allergens like eggs and now tries to prepare allergen-free food. In this situation, the allergen traces from his hands, gloves or even clothes may get into the other food, and it will also be affected.
Which Precaution Should be Taken to Prevent Cross Contact – Steps to Take
Cross-contamination is a serious threat to the health of those people who have allergies. There are certain measures that you can take to prevent cross-contact and prevent it from happening. These steps are mentioned below:
Following steps prevent cross contact:
- Washing Hands
- Proper Labelling
- Use Different Utensils
- Keep General Cleanliness
- Prepare Safe Food First
- Handle Dirty Dishes Separately
Washing Hands
Proper washing of hands is the fundamental step for those who ask which step prevents cross-contact. Most of the time, allergens are transferred by hand. It is also important to note that it is not necessary that the allergen is only transferred when your hands are dirty. Even if you handle peanuts or dairy products, consider your hand’s allergen carrying.
Incorporate hand washing practice into your routine at home. Everyone should first wash hands with soap for at least 20 seconds before getting into the kitchen or other part of the home where food is stored. It will eliminate the risks of allergen transfer.
Proper Labelling
Labelling is a common method to separate allergen-free and allergic food. You can use different wording or colouring to differentiate between safe and unsafe food. Every item should properly be labelled, no matter if it is in the refrigerator, racks or shelf.
You can easily find labelling stickers from the market that you can use to label food items. These are usually in red and green colours, meaning that red is unsafe and green is safe to use. Additionally, you can also make these stickers at home.
Use Different Utensils
It is vital to use separate crockery for safe and unsafe food. It will help you get rid of equipment-to-food cross-contamination. Knife, forks, spoons and other such equipment usually cause allergies to spread.
For example, if you have used the knife to butter your bread and then someone else is using the same knife for jam, the whole jar will be contaminated. When it comes to food allergies, even a negligible quantity of allergen protein can inflict severe damage to the individual.
Keep General Cleanliness
It is also important to maintain general cleanliness throughout your home. The surfaces where you put your food for storage and cutting should be thoroughly cleaned. Any traces of allergic proteins could seep into the safe food later on.
Another thing that should be kept in mind is that it is not only important to clean the surfaces before handling food but also after that. It is just to ensure that there are no allergens that can contaminate the safe food.
Prepare Safe Food First
It seems ordinary, but it is vital to prepare safe food first if you get to choose between the two types. It ensures that you might not contaminate food through other unsafe food by accident. When you prepare food, there are plenty of utensils.
Handle Dirty Dishes Separately
You must categorize dishes that had safe and unsafe food previously and then do the dishes separately. If you handle all the dirty dishes at the same place, there is a great chance to get the safe utensils contaminated by the other dishes.
Conclusion
Preparing an allergen-free meal is a challenge most of the time. It takes a lot of concentration and detailing to keep the food safe. So, which step would prevent cross-contact when preparing an allergen-free meal? There are a number of steps that you can follow to avoid contamination.
These steps include washing dishes separately, labelling jars, using separate utensils and keeping them in safe storage. Even a small trace of allergen like soy, wheat or milk can trigger severe allergies. Therefore, follow the precautionary measures and stay healthy.
