can you still be a chef

Why not?

Well, you shouldn't cough on the food (contamination), but that can be controlled, if necessary, with a face mask. No worse than a hairnet, or mustache net.

Don't you use an asthma inhaler? Coughing should be held in check.

I'd think if you are treating a condition like asthma correctly, it shouldn't be a huge problem. That being said, you can cough on my food if you share the same neck of woods as me. It's ok.

Asthma is not communicable. How many non-asthma chefs show up to work with a cold or strep once a year or maybe two .. and through coughing/sneezing/general touching of infected areas expose people to what are actually communicable infections?

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastshores 

 How many non-asthma chefs show up to work with a cold or strep once a year or maybe two .. and through coughing/sneezing/general touching of infected areas expose people to what are actually communicable infections?

I don't want to know the answer to that question!

You are right, Eastshores, asthma is not communicable. It's the other gunk in the cough that worries me.

I've had chronic asthma and allergies for as long as I've cooked. Usually if I need to cough or sneeze or whatever, I usually feel it coming at least a second or two before it happens. I take the opportunity to set down my knife  or anything dangerous I have, and take evasive maneuvers. I try to stifle sneezes, but coughs are trickier. If I can get myself where I can ensure my cough is nowhere near food, all the better. Typically, I'll have to wash my hands, but most kitchens have hand sinks everywhere anyways, so it's not a big issue. If I sneeze or cough directly into my hands, I'll give them an extra thorough scrubbing, but it still usually isn't a lot of wasted time. I've seen many cooks with habits much worse than mine, and none of those restaurants have been shut down, or those cooks canned. Of course, I don't condone their unsanitary behaviour, but I merely want to say that in my experience, many cooks deal with wily bodily functions and are still able to hold down their jobs.

Short answer: you can be a chef if you have asthma. Just don't spew saliva into my food.