Latex Allergy-perhaps someone knows?

[Xraygirl92]

Hi everyone-I'm new to CC and I am trying to find an answer to a question-thought I'd run it by y'all and see if anyone has ever noticed onboard...

 

Does anyone know if latex gloves are in use in food prep or serving on board the ships? Maybe someone has noticed during Chef's Table or something.

 

I have a severe allergy to latex, thanks to years of working in the medical field. We check anytime we go out to eat here locally. A lot of places have started using vinyl or Nitrile gloves in place of latex, because the allergy is getting a lot more common. I don't just have a mild reaction-more like trouble breathing, swallowing, etc. I know what fruits, etc to avoid. I'm just worried about this one aspect.

 

I did call Carnival on Tuesday, and haven't gotten an answer yet. The lady I spoke with said she would check with the ordering person in charge and email me, but so far, no response. I also emailed John Heald, but I know he is a very busy man.

 

We're not booked on a cruise yet, but are researching ahead, so it's not an immediate answer I need. I just want to know if I can keep planning or if I need to consider not cruising. :( I sure hope that's not the case.

 

Thanks for any information you might have!

[RuthlessBoss]

Just seen those clear ones, disposables near food.

[RuthlessBoss]

I just went to the top of this page to the square that says "search cruise critic", printed in the word latex and pressed go. There is a huge amount of threads dealing with latex allergy and questions pertaining to it.

[sanmarcosman]

Yes, I often see latex gloves in use. Here are the black latex food handler gloves worn at The Taste Bar outlet on the ships.

[RuthlessBoss]

Yes, I often see latex gloves in use. Here are the black latex food handler gloves worn at The Taste Bar outlet on the ships.

 

The color likely means it's not straight latex, just as in a doctor office or hospital you see the purple gloves.

[Xraygirl92]

I just went to the top of this page to the square that says "search cruise critic", printed in the word latex and pressed go. There is a huge amount of threads dealing with latex allergy and questions pertaining to it.

 

Thank you!! Like I said, new here--I will go check them out.

 

The black gloves are usually Nitrile, but it's something to check on.

 

Thank you both!

[sailor_jimc]

If your allergy is that severe do not ask your question here. Contact carnival at icare@carnival.com and ask them directly if they use latex gloves or not.

[Xraygirl92]

If your allergy is that severe do not ask your question here. Contact carnival at icare@carnival.com and ask them directly if they use latex gloves or not.

 

Thank you-I have done so, but with no reply as yet. I contacted the Special Needs Department at Carnival.

 

I just asked to see if someone might have noticed on a prior cruise. I've been in the medical field for 24+ years, so I won't take just word of mouth. I carry my own meds with me at all times, and wear a Medic-Alert bracelet also.

 

Thanks again all. I may go ahead when I get a response and post it, just in case anyone in the future wonders.

[Sparkygirl]

My 4 year old has a life threatening latex allergy. We can not sail carnival due to her allergy. Special needs was not able to meet the accommodations my daughter needs. Please e-mail me daadme at gmail dot com I will share our cruising experience and history. My daughter is anaphylaxis to contact and airborne latex.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Sparkygirl]

Thank you-I have done so, but with no reply as yet. I contacted the Special Needs Department at Carnival.

 

 

 

I just asked to see if someone might have noticed on a prior cruise. I've been in the medical field for 24+ years, so I won't take just word of mouth. I carry my own meds with me at all times, and wear a Medic-Alert bracelet also.

 

 

 

Thanks again all. I may go ahead when I get a response and post it, just in case anyone in the future wonders.

 

 

Your question is exactly how I found your post in a search and know I have info I can share.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[NS-Cruiser]

My wife also has a severe latex allergy, and as such she too wears a medic alert... all I have ever seen on our 5 cruises so far are the NITRILE gloves being used, if any at all.

 

The problem with gloves being used in food service is that they give a false sense of cleanliness to the wearer, but can transmit far more germs etc., than would bare hands. At least if the server is bare handed, and they get "something" on their hands they will wash them.... got something on a glove, and you / they might not notice it since their clean hand is inside the protection of the glove, and thereby cross contaminate some other food stuffs...

 

You - working in the medical field - would know to change your gloves between patients, that doesn't happen in the food service industry if they are wearing gloves, and that causes all kinds of food allergens to cross contaminate food to be consumed by unsuspecting diners.

 

Personally I hate seeing gloves used in food service for just that reason.

[Xraygirl92]

Your question is exactly how I found your post in a search and know I have info I can share.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

 

Thank you Sparkygirl, I will email you. It will come from a gmail account also-I will use Latex as the subject line.

[Xraygirl92]

My wife also has a severe latex allergy, and as such she too wears a medic alert... all I have ever seen on our 5 cruises so far are the NITRILE gloves being used, if any at all.

 

The problem with gloves being used in food service is that they give a false sense of cleanliness to the wearer, but can transmit far more germs etc., than would bare hands. At least if the server is bare handed, and they get "something" on their hands they will wash them.... got something on a glove, and you / they might not notice it since their clean hand is inside the protection of the glove, and thereby cross contaminate some other food stuffs...

 

You - working in the medical field - would know to change your gloves between patients, that doesn't happen in the food service industry if they are wearing gloves, and that causes all kinds of food allergens to cross contaminate food to be consumed by unsuspecting diners.

 

Personally I hate seeing gloves used in food service for just that reason.

 

 

Exactly!! I have to remind everyone of cross contamination issues all the time. I'm allergic to bananas, kiwi, and avocados also--all related to the latex allergy.

 

Thank you for sharing about your wife. Our planned cruise is still some time off--it will be our first real vacation after we get two kids graduated from HS and off to college. I've caught the cruise bug from a coworker who just returned from the Magic recently--now I want to go!

[kelkel2]

Yes, I often see latex gloves in use. Here are the black latex food handler gloves worn at The Taste Bar outlet on the ships.

 

The black color and the fact that they are gloves doesn't mean they are latex. Latex is an ingredient that that gloves are made of. In the hospital I work at I wear purple gloves and they are made of Nitrilite.

OP, I saw you found someone with some info you can contact. I was going to tell you we did a kitchen tour and saw them wearing gloves, but would not be able to comment on what type, brand, or material of glove they were wearing. Which I know is the most important thing.

[Xraygirl92]

The black color and the fact that they are gloves doesn't mean they are latex. Latex is an ingredient that that gloves are made of. In the hospital I work at I wear purple gloves and they are made of Nitrilite.

OP, I saw you found someone with some info you can contact. I was going to tell you we did a kitchen tour and saw them wearing gloves, but would not be able to comment on what type, brand, or material of glove they were wearing. Which I know is the most important thing.

 

Thank you Kelley! The medical group I work for has also gone to using non-latex gloves. Ours are blue Nitrile ones.

[sanmarcosman]

The black color and the fact that they are gloves doesn't mean they are latex.

Others have made this clear previous to this post.

[Xraygirl92]

Others have made this clear previous to this post.

 

I'm fine with everyone sharing their knowledge on my post. No big deal. Some people do assume that the black gloves are latex, and some are a combination of things.

 

No worries. I'd rather compile as much information as people want to share, and then make a decision based on what I find.

[YubaSutter]

Yes, I often see latex gloves in use. Here are the black latex food handler gloves worn at The Taste Bar outlet on the ships.

 

Those look like nitrile gloves. Usually, latex gloves are a beige color.

[chengkp75]

My wife also has a severe latex allergy, and as such she too wears a medic alert... all I have ever seen on our 5 cruises so far are the NITRILE gloves being used, if any at all.

 

The problem with gloves being used in food service is that they give a false sense of cleanliness to the wearer, but can transmit far more germs etc., than would bare hands. At least if the server is bare handed, and they get "something" on their hands they will wash them.... got something on a glove, and you / they might not notice it since their clean hand is inside the protection of the glove, and thereby cross contaminate some other food stuffs...

 

You - working in the medical field - would know to change your gloves between patients, that doesn't happen in the food service industry if they are wearing gloves, and that causes all kinds of food allergens to cross contaminate food to be consumed by unsuspecting diners.

 

Personally I hate seeing gloves used in food service for just that reason.

 

I can remember on NCL (I know OP is asking about Carnival), that we used a variety of gloves onboard. I believe the latex are cheaper, so those who didn't have any problem with latex would wear those, while those whose skin reacted would wear nitrile.

 

While you may see cross-contamination in food service ashore, the USPH protocols for hand hygiene are extremely strict, and you will see multiple glove changes if you could observe a meal service behind the scenes. In fact, wait staff, after touching a dirty plate and taking it back to the bus station, must either change gloves or wash their hands before they can touch a clean plate for the next course or table's service. There is even a disconnect between the input end of the dishwashing machine (dirty dishes) and the output end (clean dishes) to the extent that there will be two people stationed there to prevent cross-contamination. I doubt you'd see either practice in any restaurant ashore.

 

Anyone interested in cruise ship sanitation, you can download the 300 page operations manual, or the 120 page construction manual, which covers all cruise ships calling in the US, from the CDC VSP (Vessel Sanitation Program) site.

[SadieN]

If you do decide to book a cruise and find things wrong for your allergy you can always invoke Carnival's Vacation Guarantee

http://www.carnival.com/about-carnival/vacation-guarantee.aspx

[Homosassa]

If you have a latex allergy, are you also sensitive to bananas or avocado as sensitivity to one often shows as a problem with the other two?

[sanmarcosman]

I'm fine with everyone sharing their knowledge on my post. No big deal. Some people do assume that the black gloves are latex, and some are a combination of things.

 

No worries. I'd rather compile as much information as people want to share, and then make a decision based on what I find.

I was being quoted by the poster so it was personal to me, but thank you OP.

[Xraygirl92]

If you have a latex allergy, are you also sensitive to bananas or avocado as sensitivity to one often shows as a problem with the other two?

 

Yes, very allergic to both. I avoid them like the plague. Ticks me off, since I have my grandma's banana bread recipe that I USED to be able to eat. :rolleyes:

 

I don't seem to have issue with airborne though..but I do avoid balloons.

[Xraygirl92]

I was being quoted by the poster so it was personal to me, but thank you OP.

 

Gotcha. :)

 

Y'all are all awesome-I really appreciate the input!

Edited March 12, 2015 by Xraygirl92

[Sparkygirl]

I can remember on NCL (I know OP is asking about Carnival), that we used a variety of gloves onboard. I believe the latex are cheaper, so those who didn't have any problem with latex would wear those, while those whose skin reacted would wear nitrile.

 

While you may see cross-contamination in food service ashore, the USPH protocols for hand hygiene are extremely strict, and you will see multiple glove changes if you could observe a meal service behind the scenes. In fact, wait staff, after touching a dirty plate and taking it back to the bus station, must either change gloves or wash their hands before they can touch a clean plate for the next course or table's service. There is even a disconnect between the input end of the dishwashing machine (dirty dishes) and the output end (clean dishes) to the extent that there will be two people stationed there to prevent cross-contamination. I doubt you'd see either practice in any restaurant ashore.

 

Anyone interested in cruise ship sanitation, you can download the 300 page operations manual, or the 120 page construction manual, which covers all cruise ships calling in the US, from the CDC VSP (Vessel Sanitation Program) site.

 

As chengkp75 mentioned various gloves may be used in different areas of the ship. On our sailing the entire housekeeping and food and beverage staff switched to latex free gloves. Each evening at dinner when we were seated the box of gloves would be sitting in the center of the table. I could tell exactly which table was ours before we were ever seated. I would visually confirm the gloves were safe and they would take my daughter's order and the gloves back to the allergy kitchen. Maintenance workers painting areas of the ship or other activities that required gloves did wear latex or rubber coated gloves.

 

Balloons are another huge issue for my daughter. Work with the special needs program regarding alternate boarding arrangements. Our family is cleared for active dock access and either the entire family or daughter and 1 parent to board via the crew gangway and are escorted to our room through the crew access points. This avoids the latex balloons on the skybridge to the ship or on the outside deck of the ship. We also make arrangements for the make-up muster drill as the balloons are often still out on the deck until sail away when they are removed.