How to Manage Dairy Cross-Contaimination in the Kitchen

Believe it or not, dairy cross-contamination in our kitchen was enough to make my son seriously ill. Being that he is allergic to dairy products and we are not, we have always cooked his meals separately. However, he began experiencing serious health issues. Once we suspected that minute amounts of dairy were causing his symptoms, we started analyzing everything he ate in a detailed food diary, keeping track of everything from meal prep to dish-washing procedures. We kept modifying our process until his symptoms disappeared. It is a rigorous process, but it works for us!

• Cook dairy-free meals in separate pots/pans that have never been used to cook dairy. We purchased all new pots/pans, bakeware and spatulas.
• We cook his meal first and wash our hands frequently to minimize contamination during meal prep.
  
• We use disposable (paper) plates and cups to further minimize the chances of cross-contamination
• We have a double sink in our kitchen, so his dishes go in one side and our dishes in the other. Also, we wash his dishes with a paper towel (even dedicated sponges were problematic for us).
• We clean countertops and eating surfaces immediately after use using kitchen cleaner and paper towels.
  
• Of course, we also avoid all processed foods due to the likelihood that most of that stuff is processed on shared equipment.
• We purchase specially marked 'dairy-free' treats or snack foods from our local natural foods store. Arrowhead Mills makes a great brownie mix and Enjoy Life makes delicious chocolate chips.
• We purchase only minimally processed meats as our pediatrician noted that meat is sometimes treated with lactic acid as a preservative, a component in dairy products.