Cross-contamination is one of the biggest risks when it comes to food safety and dietary needs that warrant strict cross-contamination rules, but with toothpicks that clearly mark what the food is, you’ll help keep your guests safe while increasing sales. Tablecraft offers specialty toothpicks that clearly label gluten-free products and allergy products, so that guests with food allergies know exactly what foods are safe for them. They’re also fun for at-the-table sword fights, but that’s another story ;).
What Does Gluten Free Mean?
You’ve likely heard about the top eight common allergy ingredients, but do you know what it means to be gluten free? Gluten is a protein that is found in grains, which includes the barley used to make beer, as well as, wheat, rye and triticale (that’s a mix between wheat and rye). Celiac disease is the term used to describe people that have an allergic reaction to the gluten protein and they can have similar reactions to other food allergy sufferers when they ingest gluten of any kind.
The good news is that most people with celiac disease are well aware of the foods they need to abstain from to avoid adverse reactions; however, since a lot of grains can be mixed into foods where you wouldn’t usually expect it, it’s always a good idea to be informed of the most common gluten free foods that are avoided, including: beer, breads, cakes, candies, cereals, chips, cookies, croutons, French fries, gravies, imitation meat, matzo, pastas, processed luncheon meats, salad dressings, sauces, soups, and vegetables in sauce. If you’re not sure if the product is gluten free or not, look for a gluten free label, or call the manufacturer.