What about tupperware?

[Laurel]

I have read to use different tupperware. I don't want to have to buy more if I don't have to, but it does make you wonder. You know when you microwave spaghetti sauce in tupperware it changes the color of the tupperware and sometimes it makes the tupperware bumpy around where the top of the food was, like it possibly melted a bit. What do you guys think about this? Do I need new tupperware?

[the sensible celiac]

I think you are very likely to get differing answers on this from different people.

At our house we have one frying pan and one saucepan that are dedicated to wheaty items exclusively. Everything else is shared. Other family members eat bread and dumplings and such without affecting me.

I've never thought about any dangers from shared plasticware, and I've been GF for almost ten years now. I'm sure that it is theoretically possible that a minute amount of gluten could adhere to a piece of tupperware, but I'm inclined to believe that if it is too small to be seen with the eye then it is either not there or it does not matter.

But you really have 2 needs here, first you need to be safe from gluten, and second you need to feel that you are safe from gluten. These are both valid and legitimate concerns. Food is supposed to be pleasant, and eating is supposed to be an emotionally positive experience.

So I think it would be reasonable for you to mark certain pieces of tupperware as GF with a magic marker and slap anybody that puts pasta in them. It might not be an absolute requirement from a scientific perspective, but your peace of mind is a necessity.

I hope this answer helps

[Sharon]

My impression is that the gluten transfers and absorbs in tupperware/plastic just the same as the spaghetti sauce does in coloring it.  I'm 100% certain I got sick using a plastic container that had only had one dose of gluten in it; but I've had the same experience with teflon coated things, etc. so I have a really strict rule for myself that no one even serves me using a plastic (or wooden) instrument that has touched gluten.  But I'm one who seems to be sensitive to the tiniest little bit of gluten too.