How To Make Your Kitchen Allergen Friendly
After a food allergy diagnosis, it is essential that the kitchen becomes a safety zone. Here are some tips to make your kitchen allergy-friendly:
Do the “triple check” when purchasing food products. Manufacturers can change their production process and alter their products at any time without warning. Read the list of ingredients and food labels:
1. Once at the store before buying it.
2. Once before putting it away at home.
3. Once again before you serve or eat the product.
Specifically define the locations, shelves, and air-tight containers in the kitchen where you will store allergen-containing foods (if any).
If you’re preparing a snack/meal for someone with a food allergy, cook the allergen-free meal first, using separate cookware and serving utensils.
Do not pick an allergen out of food (e.g., removing nuts from a salad). This will not make it safe. The person with the food allergy will need a new meal prepared for them.
Wash hands often, especially between preparing meals that contain an allergen and those that do not.
Do not use the same utensils when cooking or serving food to the allergic person. Use different cutting boards: one dedicated to allergy-friendly meals. Carefully wash all utensils, pots & pans and cutting boards with dish detergent & water.
Have two separate dishwashing sponges: one for cleaning pots & pans that contain the allergen, one for cleaning pots & pans that are used for allergen-free meals.
Choose a dedicated place in the kitchen to store an emergency kit, a list of emergency telephone numbers, health insurance info & card, and emergency instructions provided by the doctor describing what to do in the event of an allergic reaction. Make sure that all family members know what to do during an emergency.
Sources:
https://foodallergycanada.ca/living-with-allergies/day-to-day-management/kitchen-tips-and-recipes/
https://www.ecarf.org/en/how-can-i-safely-manage-allergens-in-the-kitchen/
