Hidden Gluten Risk Management at Home and School: Parental Label Literacy and Cross-Contact Prevention Practices for Children with Celiac Disease

Abstract

Background:

Strict lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet is essential for children with celiac disease (CD), whose dietary safety depends largely on parental supervision and school food-safety practices. This study examined how parents manage hidden gluten risks by investigating food label literacy and cross-contact prevention measures at home and school and their relationship with accidental exposure to gluten in children who have CD.

 Materials and Methods :

A cross-sectional descriptive design was used on a sample of 120 parents of children with CD who were followed in pediatric clinics. A structured questionnaire defining socio-demographic characteristics, parental label literacy, cross-contact prevention behaviors, and the frequency of accidental exposure to gluten was used to collect data.

Results :

The results indicated that parental label literacy was mostly moderate, with significant differences between the ability to identify hidden gluten ingredients on a label and the ability to understand precautionary allergen statements on a label. Home settings had more consistent cross-contact prevention than schools, where shared food conditions and lack of supervision created a high exposure risk. The most common was accidental gluten exposure with repeated exposure that happened in a significant number of cases.

Conclusion :

The study also showed that higher parental label literacy and more effective cross-contact prevention, especially in schools, were closely linked to fewer incidents of accidental gluten exposure. These findings demonstrate the significance of implementing context-driven prevention interventions in conjunction with applied label literacy education, particularly in schools, in enhancing children with CD's nutritional safety and lowering the health risks associated with the condition.