The project investigates cross-contamination of allergenic food ingredients (e.g. peanut, soy, egg) during production in food companies.
Cross-contamination happens when allergenic ingredients accidentally get mixed with food products of which they are not an ingredient (e.g. when one production line is used for production of several products, with insufficient cleaning in-between). More specifically, the project investigates the role of food properties, process parameters and installation design on cross-contamination.

The story behind the dance

The dance illustrates a production line in a factory, where both chocolate with and without hazelnut is produced.

In the first part you see hazelnuts, a food ingredient to which some people are allergic, getting mixed with chocolate in the production line. During the processing of the chocolate with hazelnut some pieces of chocolate and hazelnut remain in the production line.

The second part shows the cleaning of the production line. The chocolate and hazelnuts are then removed, but occasionally a hazelnut can remain.

After cleaning, the production of chocolate without hazelnuts takes place.
However, the hazelnut remaining in the production line will get mixed into the chocolate: cross-contamination of the chocolate with hazelnut has occurred!

The last part illustrates a person allergic to hazelnut, eating chocolate contaminated with hazelnut, and therefore having a severe allergic reaction.

Dancers

Imen Barbouche - chocolate, allergic person
Kimberley Bouckaert - chocolate
Sofie Coelus - chocolate, cleaning lady
Mery Damanik Ambarita - chocolate
Laurens Delameilleure - chocolate
Charlotte Grootaert - chocolate
Barbara Kerkaert - hazelnut
Dries Knockaert - hazelnut
Edward Mubiru - chocolate
Monica Obando Chaves - chocolate
Agnieszka Owczarek-Fendor - chocolate
Helena Salomonsson - hazelnut, cleaning lady
Kshitij Shrestha - chocolate
Dorien Staljanssens - hazelnut
Evelien Van de Perre - chocolate, cleaning lady
Kathy Van Den Houwe - hazelnut, cleaning lady