washing up. Avoid using the same spoon to stir a non-milk drink when everyone else in the family is having a drink containing milk. This kind of attitude should not be considered to be fussy – merely careful.
Generally speaking, milk contamination is less of a hazard than wheat, as milk is usually liquid. Do be careful with dried milk before you mix it with water as it can be dusty and has a nasty habit of sticking to the spoon.
Eggs
Eggs provide a cheap form of food which is very nutritious. Because of the two parts of an egg, the protein-rich white (albumen) and the fat-rich yolk, its versatility in cooking is quite staggering. In particular the white can be aerated to make meringue, and beaten into other foods to bind them together. The yolk can be used to make emulsions such as mayonnaise.
If you see any of the following items listed as an ingredient in a manufactured food it means that egg has been used in its production, and it should therefore be avoided:
Albumen
Dried egg
Egg
Egg glaze
Egg lecithin
Egg white
Egg yolk
Fresh egg
Lecithin (unless from soya)
Meringues
Whole egg
The following must not be used in egg-free cooking, unless you are sure they do not contain egg:
Batter mixes
Batter-coated foods (such as fish fingers)
Bedtime drinks
Beefburgers
Custard
Fish cakes
Ice cream
Meat balls
Quiche
Salad cream
Sauces
Scotch egg
Spaghetti and pastas
Sponge and cake mixes
What eggs provide
Eggs contribute protein and fat, calcium, iron, Vitamin A and other vitamins and minerals. They can be replaced in the diet with more meat and fish, but as an aid to cooking they are irreplaceable. You may come across so-called ‘egg replacers’ while shopping, but a glance at the ingredients list on the pack will reveal that they are largely starch in composition and nutritionally nothing like an egg. However, binders such as grated apple and pectin can be incorporated into foods so that they don’t fall into crumbs. Oils can be substituted for egg yolks to make mayonnaise, but they will not have the yellow colouring of egg yolk.
Contamination in the home
Extra care is required during cleaning of utensils, cutlery, etc., to avoid contamination. In particular, forks can trap cooked egg between the prongs. Egg white has a very strong tendency to attach itself to utensils, baking sheets, etc. If very stubborn it should be scraped off with a knife. As with wheat and milk contamination the answer to egg contamination is scrupulous cleanliness and great care.
An allergy, intolerance or sensitivity to wheat, milk or eggs may manifest itself in one or more symptoms. It is difficult to be specific about what is causing the symptoms as they can also be caused by other factors. People with persistent symptoms should consult their medical practitioner and not try to diagnose and treat themselves.
Physical Symptoms
Head
Feeling dizzy or faint, headaches, migraine, heavy feeling.
Eyes
Watery, itchy, red, swollen, tired, sore, blurred vision, heavy feeling in eyelids.
Nose
Runny nose, sneezing, itching, burning, excessive mucus, blocked nose, sinusitis.
Ears
Ringing in the ears, soreness, loss of hearing, earache, burning sensations, itching.
Throat and Mouth
Soreness, sore gums, swollen tongue, mouth ulcers, loss of taste, hoarseness, cough, choking fits, itching of the roof of the mouth, bad breath.
Heart and Lungs
Chest pains, palpitations, rapid heartbeat, asthma, chest congestion, tightness across chest, shallow breathing, excessive sighing, breathlessness, catarrh.
Gastro-intestinal
Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, constipation, swollen stomach, bloated feeling after eating, flatulence, feeling ‘full up’ long after meals, stomach pains, poor appetite, cravings for foods, dyspepsia.
Skin
Rashes, hives, inexplicable bruises, easily marked skin, eczema, excessively pale colour, dermatitis, itching, soreness, redness, sores, acne.
Other Physical Symptoms
Weakness, cramp, cold hands and feet, flushing, shivering fits, trembling, aches and pains in the joints, swelling of the limbs, aches and pains in the muscles, swelling of the face, hands, feet, ankles, constant feeling of hunger,
