Kitchen Safety & Food Allergies Make an Appointment Ask a Question Search Conditions This information has been reviewed and approved by Brandon Engel, Production Manager - Food & Clinical Nutrition Services (June 2013). Want to use this on your website? Fill out the content usage request form and then copy this code: Summary: Be Safe in Your Kitchen: How to Avoid Cross-Contamination of Food and Food Allergy Triggers Common Food Allergens Milk Eggs Soy Peanuts and tree nuts Wheat Fish Shellfish Kitchen Safety Don't eat or drink while cooking- cross-contamination occurs when touching glasses or eating food Use one cutting board for each food group- raw beef, raw poultry, produce, dry goods; wash thoroughly after each use Use lots of towels- disposable are best; one for hand wiping, one for wiping countertops, and don't wipe hands on aprons Wash your hands - after handling potentially hazardous foods, coughing, sneezing, smoking, restroom breaks, eating, drinking; before eating and handling foods; before grabbing food out of a container Cooking for Food Allergies Don't cook items side-by-side. Food may splatter and cross-contaminate. Store foods individually wrapped and sealed. Store nuts separately from other food and buy only what you need. Use specific color -designated knives and cutting boards for each allergenic food. Properly sanitize dishes to avoid contamination and designate specific dishes to be used only by the food-allergic person. Clean equipment thoroughly - all pots and pans should be cleaned, dried and stored properly. Clean kitchen surfaces - don't forget front edges of countertops and drawer handles/knobs. More Information on Food Allergies Food Allergy Recommendations Food Allergy-Safe Recipes General Nutrition Tips Food Allergy Treatment Program Allergy Treatment Programs (Pediatric & Adult) Division of Pediatric Allergy & Clinical Immunology Division of Allergy & Clinical Immunology Find a Doctor Make an Appointment You may use this infographic or our kitchen safety infographic poster (pdf) with permission by completing our content usage request form.