Meal Pattern Minute: Preventing Cross-Contact

When it comes to children or adults with food allergies, it’s important to prevent cross-contact when foods are prepared and served. But what is cross-contact? Cross-contact is the unintentional transfer of allergens from one food or surface to another, potentially contaminating food for those with allergies. This can trigger symptoms that are mild (hives, rash) to severe (anaphylaxis) reactions. Learning the right way to prepare food allergen-friendly meals to avoid cross-contact is imperative. 

 Get the scoop on how to prevent cross-contact by listening to Isabel Ramos-Lebron, MS, RDN, LD. She will provide a few tips you can start implementing right away. 

 Learn more about food allergies and cross-contact by referring to the resources below. 

• Food Safety at Food and Nutrition Services
  • FNS helps protect program participants from foodborne illness by developing food safety education, training, and technical assistance resources to support FNS program operators this includes Child and Adult Care Program providers and sponsors. From food allergies to produce safety, there is a wide variety for you to explore. Includes Spanish resources as well. 
• Avoiding Cross-Contact
  • Learn how to prevent cross-contact, which happens when an allergen is accidentally transferred from one food to another. 
• Meal Pattern Minute: Cross-Contact 
  • When working in the kitchen, you might hear two different terminologies, cross-contamination and cross contact. Often these words are used interchangeably but incorrectly so. Cross-contamination is the transfer of harmful bacteria or other pathogens from one surface, food, or object to another, leading to potential foodborne illness. Cross-contact has to do with unsafe preparation practices and food allergens. To learn more listen to this Meal Pattern Minute. 
• Meal Pattern Minute: Top 9 Food Allergens
  • Food allergies are immune system reactions triggered by consuming certain foods, causing symptoms ranging from mild itching to life-threatening anaphylaxis. These reactions occur when the immune system mistakenly identifies specific proteins in food as harmful, leading to an exaggerated response. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identifies nine major food allergens that Child and Adult Care Food Program providers should be made aware of as these are the more common allergens that you may find at your facility with those in your care. Learn what the nine major food allergens are and a mnemonic device to help remember them by listening in to this Meal Pattern Minute 
• Webinars  
  • Handling Food Allergens in the CACFP Infant Meal Pattern 
    • Food allergies can arise at any age, even in infancy! Learn the nine major food allergens, how to identify foods containing these allergens and questions you may need to ask to serve meals safely for the infant(s) in your care.   
  • Take the Special Diets Boot Camp! 
    • Need to know how to apply CACFP meal pattern substitutions or modifications with real, practical solutions? Our Special Diets Boot Camp helps you navigate the intricacies of policy regulations and proper documentation. You can find all of these webinars at cacfp.org/learning-center, or click directly on the title for easy navigation.

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