Nut Allergies - Old Monroe,MO

If you decide to bake this cake, I would just let the grandparents and her parents know that you baked it in a kitchen where tree nuts have been present, and take no responsibility for any possible allergy reactions.

As a parent of a child with a nut allergy, I would also suggest to the coworker that he ask his son/daughter to bring a small dessert for their daughter to be on the safe side. They should be used to this and not offended.

M.

I'd be extremely uncomfortable being informed I'm doing such a thing for somebody's spouse, particularly when the demand comes with such specific requirements. Why not strike up another "conversation" with the guy that goes something like this:

"I hear you'd like me to bake an allergen-free cake for your wife. And no, I'm not comfortable doing that. I hope you find another source."

Friendly voice, no reasons, no excuses, no accusation, no complaining about not being sure you can make a safe cake, no annoyance at only three days' notice. If the coworker sounds shocked or angry, go a little deeper into your own needs, "I hear that you're surprised I won't make the cake. I'm surprised you would expect me to! I hope you find another source."

If you know this is a reasonable thing for you to do, you can do it, and stay calm and happy. If you buckle, you're laying yourself down like a rug for others to walk on with no appreciation.

Incidentally, as a former rug, I learned this process and it has been wonderful, empowering, and ever so grown-up. Good luck!

I would refuse to bake this cake. Nut allergies are serious and even with the best of precautions, "something" could trigger her allergy and YOU would be the one they blame. It's not worth the headache or potential lawsuit. Tell your co-worker that you're honored he wants you to bake the cake, but your kitchen is too unsafe to bake a cake for a little girl with nut allergies and you'd *hate* for something terrible to happen. And really, where does he come off demanding a cake from you with such high-risk conditions attached to it? If I were you, I'd be a bit put off.

Personally, I wouldn't do it. If you have nuts in your house, she shouldn't eat anything that comes out of your house. You don't want to be responsible for her having a reaction. That's what I would tell your coworker. Tell him that you're sorry, but you have nuts in your home and don't want to risk making his granddaughter sick. Tell him that you're sure he wouldn't want that either and will understand. Good luck!

Uh, I think bad idea maybe? Do they pay you for your services. I would send him a nice e-mail saying you would be delighted to bake a cake for him, but here are your cooking conditions and you can't guarantee there won't be cross-contamination. Woudl he still like the cake? And get it in writing. Sorry, but I think you are risking a law suit. Even multi-national food corporations purt nut warnings on their packages. You don't want to mess with nuts "by contact"!!! He may be grandpa, but I bet her parents would be furious if he said it was free of all nuts from a home cook.

And now, darn it, I want some cake.

While I think that your washing would be just fine, I would let him know that you can't guarantee that it is nut-free, and he needs to get a cake from a bakery that can guarantee it.

If you cleansed them thoroughly after use, then there is no worry. I myself am severely allergic to peanuts and my son to both peanuts and tree nuts. I keep tree nuts in our home and use them for baking. My MIL law frequently bakes with peanuts and peanut butter. As long as the utensils have been washed thoroughly and possibly run through a dish washer, they should be fine. Just be sure that you don't have nuts out while baking and that you have washed up all residue on your table or countertops if you have just made something else with nuts and that you don't use the same utensils between something with nuts and something nut-free without thoroughly cleansing the utensil first.

I personally would refuse to bake the cake. Especially since he "told" you. Say you're really sorry but on such short notice you can't fit it into your schedule.

My daughter is also allergic to tree nuts. We've never run into a problem with cross contamination. She's 4 and we just found out she's allergic to the nuts, so really, washing should be fine. So, should you decide to bake this cake, you should be fine with what you are already doing.

First off, it was kind of rude for him to tell you to do anything, then to give you restrictions. He should have asked if you'd be willing to make a cake that is allergen free first. How Rude! Anyway, if you do decide to bake this cake for your co-worker then I would type out a disclaimer and put it on whatever you put the cake in for delivery. Say that you did what you could but if his granddaughter has a reaction that you cannot be held responsible. That way you aren't liable for any thing that might happen. Then, I would just wash normally before you start and have fun baking. Good luck and God Bless.