New GF FDA Regulations Effective Today

New FDA Regulations Effective Today The Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) is happy to report that all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulated products produced on August 5th, 2014 or later, and that claim to be "gluten-free", are required to contain less than 20 ppm of gluten. Products that are produced on, or after, this date must meet the definition laid out by the FDA regulation or they will be considered misbranded.  Essentially this means that if a FDA-regulated product is labeled "gluten-free" and has a production date of August 5, 2014 or later, it is considered safe to consume. The rule also applies to the terms "no gluten", "free of gluten", and "without gluten". This is great news for the gluten-free consumer and should make label-reading even easier. Consumers will still need to be careful as the regulation is voluntary. Manufacturers may still produce a gluten-free product but choose not to label it as "gluten-free". For products which are neither certified nor labeled "gluten-free", it is essential to read the ingredient list. It is important to remember that "wheat-free" is not the same as "gluten-free". Ingredients that are not gluten-free and should raise a red flag to you, the consumer, include: Wheat (including all types of wheat such as spelt) Rye Barley Oats (unless specifically labelled gluten-free) Malt Brewer's yeast Note that products manufactured before August 5, 2014 may still be on retail shelves after that date. These products were not required to comply with the regulation. This means that there is a possibility that some products will still be on the shelf on August 5th that do not meet the regulation definition. Should the manufactured date not be listed on the package, consumers can confirm production date by contacting the manufacturer.  These changes will also apply to dietary supplements but not to prescription or over-the-counter medications. Restaurant foods are also not covered by this new regulation but the FDA is encouraging the restaurant industry to move towards similar, consistent, gluten-free labeling. The safest consumer decision will be to look for the GFCO Certified Gluten-Free logo on the product packaging. A product that carries a certification from GIG's Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) is held to higher standards than those regulated by the FDA. GFCO certified items are required to have no more than 10 ppm (parts per million) of gluten in comparison to the FDA regulation which requires less than 20 ppm. All products certified by GFCO are considered safe for gluten-free consumers, regardless of the production date.

Gluten Free Holiday Food Fair 10/22 10-2 in NE Portland

Gluten Free Holiday Food Fair

Saturday, October 22nd, 2011 10am-2pm


$5 per person, $10 per family, Kids under 12 free!


Venue: The International Fellowship Family
4401 NE 122nd St., Portland, OR
(NE 122nd & Sandy, across from Kmart)
New larger venue with lots of easy parking.

Enjoy samples of gluten free products from over 40 local and regional vendors.
Purchase or pre-order items for your holiday needs - Halloween, Thanksgiving, Holiday events, New Years.

Four speakers on gluten issues.
Kids corner with activities for the children.
Oregon Food Bank barrels to help those who are hungry -
feel free to bring non-perishable groceries to feed Oregon's families.

This event is being organized by the Gluten Intolerance Groups of Portland, McMinnville and the Mid-Willamette Valley(Salem), 501c3 non-profit groups.

Attend this event to help those affected by gluten intolerance
through education, support and resources.

Contact Lisa Shaver (503-577-9339) for details or if you would like to be a vendor.

Lamb's Markets Spring Events

Come check out one of Lamb's Markets gluten free vendor fairs.
I went to one last fall and it was absolutely amazing!  It is a great way to try new products from local and national vendors while accomplishing your grocery shopping.
These events are well worth checking out!

Jensen's Gluten Free Bread in Portland

Do you want gluten-free buns at Burgerville? Burgerville and Dave Jensen of Jensen's Bread and Bakeries, under the name of Gluten Free Concepts, a dedicated gluten-free wholesale bakery in Portland, OR, are in discussion right now. You can make your voice heard. 


Go to Facebook and on the Burgerville page, click the Discussions tab. Choose the Gluten Free Bun discussion and post a comment. Dave's buns are called Better Buns and they are getting rave reviews. 


Want to try them out? They are at McMenamin's hotels and pubs/restaurants and pubs and at Dick's Kitchen on Belmont. See the full list of restaurants here.

Alive! Expo at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall

Alive! Expo is "The Natural Products & Green Living" consumer event. Every year Alive! Expo brings together local and national companies that specialize in natural and organic products, natural and organic foods, environmental, Green and Eco products for the home, pets, and the whole family, recyclable products, naturopathic & alternative practitioners, chiropractors, vitamins and supplements, as well as health food retailers and community non-profit organizations. At the expo, companies showcase information about their products and services to thousands of individuals interested in leading a green, clean and healthy lifestyle. Alive Expo is a fun and exciting weekend event for the entire family.

Our mission is to inspire and encourage individuals to embrace a life of health, wellness, fitness, environmental and green living through awareness of natural, organic and alternative products and solutions, advanced medicine research, education, nutrition, exercise and lifelong benefits of living a green, clean and healthy lifestyle.

There will be gluten-free demos on the stage!

The Gluten Intolerance Group will have a booth at the Expo, so be sure to stop by.

It will be held Nov 13 & 14, 2010 at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall.

Please go to www.aliveexpo.com to find out more.

Bakery on Main - Back in Business! They are silly and fun.

Bakery on Main Up in Smoke

Sad news from Greater Hartford: Bakery on Main, home of the best gluten-free granola around, burned up today in a two-alarm fire, local media says nearly all of their stock was destroyed.

If you're a fan it might be wise to stock up on their granola as it maybe a while before they're able to reopen. Here's hoping they're able to recover and get back on their feet.

Betty Crocker Mixes on Sale

A note I'm passing along from a sharp eyed shopper:

I was at Winco in Tigard this afternoon (Located right off 99W. I believe the cross streets are Dartmouth and 72nd.) and was surprised to see GF Betty Crocker mixes (all 4 varieties) on sale for $2.48! I asked the cashier if they were on sale because they were not going to be carrying them anymore but she said they have it at a promotional price because its a new product (to the store) and that she's hoping people will buy them so the store continues to stock the mixes. I've seen them on the shelves at Winco for the past few months but they've always been about $4...about the same as Fred Meyer.

Hope everyone can take advantage of the great low price!

Food Fair this Saturday!

Here's a reminder that the annual Portland Metro & Willamette Valley Gluten-Free Food Fair is this coming Saturday.

It is held at All Saints Catholic Church on 39th and Glisan from 11AM-2PM. The entry is $5 a person, or $10 for a family. See the post below for detils.

Come check out the 27 vendors signed up. They range from local bakeries, to resturants, stores, and products. Yummy samples will be apleanty and many vendors will be selling their products, so plan to stock up. We will have 3 raffles, going on at noon, 1pm and 1:45pm!


Just a note: GIG Portland is still meeting May 8th at Legacy Emanuel Hospital at our normal time of 10 to noon. Our speaker will be Wendy Cohan, RN.

News Bites

In thanks to our friend, Connie Sarros for these interesting news bits...

Starbucks
Several different celiac blogs have announced recently that Starbuck's again carries gluten-free snacks. I just got off the phone with Starbuck's (1-800-235-2883). They said they carry Kind Bars (made by Kind Healthy Snacks), which the manufacturer states are gluten-free. As for Starbuck's own baked products, they will not claim that any of their foods or desserts are gluten-free due to cross contamination issues.

Contential Airlines
As of March 15, 2010, Continental Airlines stopped offering gluten-free meal options. I asked their representative if anything can be done to reverse this decision. She recommended that as many people as possible send an email requesting that gluten-free items be reinstated. Celiacs have banded together before and your letters have changed outcomes. Make your voice heard by emailing the head of Continental Airlines: Mr. Jeffery A. Smisek, CEO at jeff.smisek@coair.com.

More about Contential Airlines from Triumph Dining

My first transatlantic flight after my celiac diagnosis had been booked long before I was ever tested for the condition. The flight was with Delta who had just recently dropped gluten-free meals from their service. After a long and extremely frustrating battle with many representatives from Delta, I finally settled on ordering a vegetarian meal, knowing there might be nothing safe for me to eat in it. Since I was packing plenty of food for dinner, breakfast the next morning and snacks in between, it didn’t really matter what the vegetarian meal contained.

Someone used to ordering special meals on flights suggested I order two vegetarian meals. If they lost only one of them, I’d still have something to eat – maybe. Sure enough, on the flight over, they had only one special meal even though it stated on the tickets we both had special meals ordered. I was able to have salad with my own dressing and some fruit from the airline meal. I had packed a sandwich, peanut butter and crackers, dried fruit and a brownie for dinner alone. I could not eat ll the food I brought for that meal so my husband happily helped me finish it. For breakfast the next morning, other passengers were given a hard, cold roll and a green (literally) banana. My breakfast consisted of a hard boiled egg, some cheese, fruit and ready-cooked bacon. I remember the stares from some around me and comments from people who smelled my tasty bacon that could not see my delightful gluten-free breakfast. It was amusing, to say the least.

On the flight back, neither of us got the special meals we’d requested, but I’d expected as much by then. The Paris airport offered a safe pre-packaged salad and some chips. As always, I had my own dressing packet for the salad. I also had a backpack full of gluten-free food I’d packed for the trip, that I didn’t need to eat on vacation. Almost every person I’ve spoken to since that trip has reported problems with their special meal request with various American based airlines. Apparently Delta reintroduced gluten-free meals but includes things like Rice Krispies in the gluten-free breakfast. Rice Krispies contain gluten in the form of barley malt.

Last week on the celiac listserv, Janet Y. Rinhart, Chairman of the Houston Celiac Support Group, posted some annoying news about Continental Airlines. She gave me her permission to post some of her comments here.

CONTINENTAL AIRLINES has discontinued special gluten-free meals on international flights. This can be anxiety-ridden for celiacs if they do not know and do not come prepared on international flights. Because of security concerns and customs, it may be hard to even bring food, at least enough for that flight and a return flight. And there are few GF choices after Security. Of course, you don’t know what is available when you are abroad as well. Please join me in writing your opinion and encourage Continental to reinstate their gluten-free meals. I think they are keeping the vegan selection, but vegan is mainly a choice. A gluten-free diet is not a choice for celiacs; it is the only way to stay healthy. It is the ONLY treatment for celiac disease.

Continental CEO e-mail: jeff.smisek@coair.com

or write to: Mr. Jeffery A. Smisek, CEO, Continental Airlines, P.O. Box 4607, Houston, Texas 77210-4607

Customer service phone # 800.WE.CARE2 (800.932.2732)

Well said Janet. In addition to offering a vegan meal, Continental Airlines also offers the following special meals for international flights only – Hindu, Muslim, Vegan, Kosher and Jain. As reported on ABC News earlier this week, the airline does not offer free meal service on any flight under six hours. Let’s see how much Continental Airlines really cares about what their customers think. Consider joining forces with Janet and making a difference in how the gluten-free community is treated by the airline. It’s great that the airline makes the above mentioned meals available (on transatlantic flights) to people who need them. However, having to eat gluten-free is not a choice for most of us and it seems a bit absurd that the gluten-free meal (a meal prescribed for a medical condition) would be one that was recently dropped from the special meal line-up.

Snyder's not to be trusted!

Please, please take a moment to read this whole thing. Attitudes like this coming from companies that care more for their bottom line then for our health are appalling! I personally will not be buying anything they produce.
Thanks,
Jenn Friesen

-----------------------------------------------------
GLUTEN FREE MOM: I received the following from someone who I really respect in the gluten free community. Jules is completely dedicated to making this a better gluten free world. Please read the following:

JULES SHEPARD: Are you willing to be poisoned?　 For profit?

I apologize for the alarm, but where food safety and our health are concerned, silence is not an option. I hope you agree.

This month I met a senior executive of a food company that is launching a new gluten-free product. When I asked why their product was not certified gluten-free,　I was discouraged (because I usually only eat products that are certified). As we discussed their reasons, and their casual and dangerous interpretation of what "gluten free" means,　my stomach knotted,　by blood pressure rose and I was moved to write a letter to their CEO.

Please read the letter,　and join me and thousands of gluten-free consumers who will not be taken advantage of for profit’s sake. The incredible growth of the gluten-free segment of the food industry is usually a positive development for those of us adhering to this eating style. But this growth also is fraught with perils,　as uncaring, uninformed companies disregard our health in their eager attempts to capture their share of our dollars. I’ve long compelled my readers to not patronize companies that produce inferior products; to not compromise on taste. Nor should we blindly flock like underfed lemmings to the snack food aisle to purchase the latest "gluten-free" offerings…without proof of the companies’ commitment to protecting our health.

Until now, I had nothing against this company, but in light of what I learned directly from a senior executive, I feel nothing but an all-out boycott of this product by the gluten-free community will suffice.　 We need to send a message that our collective purchasing power is powerful indeed. And that gluten-free consumers deserve the safety,　care and accountability that marketing a product to us demands. Your swift and committed response will send a message not only to this company,　but will serve as a warning to others who want to capitalize on us without doing their diligence.

Don’t remain silent. Exercise your right! Voice your concerns by contacting the President and CEO of Snyder's of Hanover directly, Mr. Carl Lee at SOH@snyders-han.com.

Then please pass on this letter to all those you care about who live gluten free.　

The gluten-free community is a tight-knit one,　indeed.　 Let’s harness the power we have in our numbers,　and raise our voices.　 We will not be exploited!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mr. Carl Lee

President & CEO

Snyder's of Hanover

VIA FAX 717-632-7207

March 26, 2010

Dear Sir,

Your company has undoubtedly identified the gluten-free segment of the food market as a high-growth opportunity. You are about to learn how vital truly gluten-free foods are to the health of this same population – a population which can be very vocal when they think they are being taken advantage of and when their health is placed in jeopardy.

I met with your Vice President of Marketing at Expo West and engaged him in a discussion about your new gluten-free pretzels. I was initially excited about this brand new offering, but I soon became horrified at your company's reckless disregard for the safety of the population to which you hope to market this product.

When I asked about why Snyder's isn't GF certified, your VP of Marketing, Rudi Fischer, brushed off the notion, explaining that the company had explored the requirements of certification, and "didn't want the headaches" that came with it. He elaborated that Snyder's didn't want to have to do any product recalls or lose inventory because any given run may test at over 20 ppm gluten. He even threw out the example that if someone "forgot to wash down the line" between gluten and gluten-free runs, he didn't want to have to "report to anyone else, pull inventory or do any recalls of product". He went so far as to say that although the bags are currently labeled "Gluten Free" and also "Wheat Free," the company is actually going to take off the "Wheat Free" designation since the products are run with wheat products and are potentially contaminated with wheat. Shockingly, he indicated that the "Gluten Free" label will remain, however.

Your VP also said your company is not really concerned with the gluten ppm test results since, he said, "only 3 million people are celiac, and most of them don't even know it yet." He identified your target market as "the other 22 million eating gluten free, just because.s" He indicated that this market segment wouldn't really care if your products contained 20ppm or 23ppm gluten. Can he be serious? When I inquired as to why on earth Snyder's would enter this marketplace (with this approach), he answered, "Because Glutino is making a killing with their pretzels."

This 3-ppm increase in gluten could trigger any number of symptoms in celiacs, or in those who "merely" eat gluten free, ranging from painful gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea and cramping, to nutrient malabsorption, painful skin lesions, joint inflammation, fatigue, infertility and miscarriage, and of course, headaches – although apparently ours are not as serious as the headaches your VP indicated would come with gluten-free certification.

I spent the afternoon before the Expo speaking at the Healthy Baking Seminar to more than 130 manufacturers who wanted to get gluten free right. Small and large companies which are willing to invest in educating themselves about the onerous responsibility of gluten-free food safety as well as the market opportunity it represents.

They know, as I wish your company did, that gluten free is not just about a market opportunity. It is a responsibility manufacturers bear when they enter this marketplace. Did you do more than buy the SPINS report, or did you actually talk to gluten-free consumers? In any of your focus groups, did anyone say that a 3-ppm increase (or more) in gluten is acceptable? One-eighth of a teaspoon of gluten-containing flour can cause a chain reaction of painful symptoms in gluten-free consumers from which it may take weeks to recover. The manufacturers who take this responsibility seriously and produce good products -- the ones who do it right -- like Glutino, can make "a killing." The ones who disregard the importance of the responsibility they bear, like Great Specialty Products (recently indicted in North Carolina on six counts of obtaining property by false pretenses by marketing bread as gluten-free that was not, in fact, gluten-free), will have far more to deal with than poor sales.

This is a critical juncture for Snyder's entering this market. As you will see, all eyes are now on you; you have the opportunity to do the right thing. If your product recovers from this misinformed beginning, it will be by finding an organization who is willing to train and certify you – and believe that when they walk out the door you will uphold their standards. It will also come from taking the time to understand your market and ingrain yourself into the gluten-free community by funding celiac research, by supporting efforts to raise awareness for the needs of the gluten-free community, and by proactively lobbying for tougher -- not looser -- labeling protocols. Take the high road and redeem your company, leading the category by example, or your "gluten-free" products will fail and much good will toward your company will be squandered.

Sincerely,

Jules E. D. Shepard

SOURCE: http://glutenfreemom.typepad.com/gluten_free_mom/2010/03/gluten-free-call-to-action.html

Godfathers Pizza soon to serve Gluten Free pizzas.

Godfathers Pizza will begin serving gluten free pizza at three locations on March 22nd.


The three locations to be serving Gluten Free pizza are:
Vancouver (2600 SE 164th Ave, Vancouver WA, 98683)
Troutdale (2503 SW Cherry Park Road, Troutdale OR, 97060) and
Portland Barnes Road (11140 SW Barnes RD, Portland OR, 97225).

The product will be available for carryout, dine-in, and delivery. These pizzas can also be purchased frozen and cooked at home at your convenience. We will have cheese, pepperoni, and the Godfather Combo as available varieties. Please contact me if I can be of any assistance or answer any questions you may have.

Pat Cahill

Pacific Pizza Co. DBA Godfather’s Pizza

1905 NW 169th Place Suite 201

Beaverton, OR 97006

503-531-7200 Office

pcahill@godfathersnw.com

Lamb’s Markets Special Offer!

Special Offer for Enjoy Life Fans! Start your day with a smile! gluten-free, dairy-free, peanut-free, tree-nut free, soy free, egg free and casein-free Have you been waiting for that perfect opportunity to try our new and improved, vitamin fortified, gluten free and allergy friendly, no-nuts crispier granola? Have you been wondering if it really looks and tastes more like the "real thing"? Then here's a GREAT OFFER for you, but you must act fast! Stop at a Lamb's Market and Purchase 1 bag of any of our 3 great-tasting Enjoy Life Granolas (Cinnamon Crunch, Cranapple Crunch and Very Berry Crunch), Send in the barcode to Enjoy Life Foods(on the bottom right, backside of the package) along with a copy of your receipt and receive FIVE $1.00 OFF coupons. Receipts showing any granola purchase (12.8 oz. size) purchased between February 1, 2010 and February 28, 2010 are eligible for this promotion. In return, you will receive FIVE $1.00 OFF coupons good on future purchases of Enjoy Life products; $5.00 OFF in total! That's like getting the Enjoy Life Granola for FREE! Please send your barcode and receipt, along with your full name, mailing and email addresses to: Enjoy Life Foods c/o JWG 1010 Davis Street Evanston, IL 60201 USA Limit one set of coupons per household. Offer only good in the U.S. and Canada. Entries will only be considered if a copy of the receipt and barcode are properly dated and are for the products indicated above. Entries must be postmarked prior to March 15, 2010 to qualify. Questions? Email the marketing team: kasey@enjoylifefoods.com. Colleen Lawson Lamb's Markets Free From Program Manager http://twitter.com/FreeFromAtLambs Send us your feedback or product requests. Freefrom@lambsmarkets.net

Butterball Now Offers Gluten-Free Gravy

While doing research for an article about gluten-free turkeys, I called the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line just to make sure their turkeys were still gluten-free as long as you threw out the gravy packet that comes with their frozen and fresh whole turkeys. Both the fresh and frozen whole turkeys are gluten-free, by the way. They make a stuffed turkey that is not. But the big news is that the Butterball gravy concentrate packets were recently reformulated to be gluten-free! The representative explained that some gluten packets are likely still in the stores so you have to read the ingredient label before using the gravy packet.

It’s my bet that there might be a lot of gluten gravy packets out there and we might have a situation like we did a couple of years ago when Honeybaked Hams changed their glaze to be gluten-free. It took well over six months for all the existing gluten glazed products to be sold. In fact, it was a bit of a PR nightmare for the corporate office. So, please don’t rush out and expect that all the gravy packets that come with some Butterball turkeys are going to be the new gluten-free version. That is likely not the case.

The gluten-free gravy concentrate ingredients include rice flour instead of wheat flour. There is no rye, barley or oats in the new formulation and the company considers it to be gluten-free. But this new gravy item is not available in the old fashioned frozen Butterball turkeys, according to the Turkey Talk-Line representative I spoke to at length about it.

The woman I spoke to made it clear that this new gravy concentrate is only available in some of the Butterball specialty items like Ready to Roast turkeys, ‘Lil Butterball turkeys and whole turkey breasts. You would think the company would include this item in the traditional frozen whole turkeys, but for now they are not doing so – unless the person I spoke to was confused. I let her know that this information is nowhere to be found on the Butterball website, nor is there a press release about it. She explained that this is very new information.

After confirming this information with two other calls to the Turkey Talk-Line, I called Butterball’s Consumer Affairs office as well. The person I spoke to in that department gave me the new gravy ingredients over the phone but I did finally locate them on the Butterball website (with the stuffed turkey ingredients).

NEW Butterball gluten-free gravy ingredients:

Modified Corn Starch, Maltodextrin, Salt, Rice Flour, Cooked Turkey, Onion Powder, Caramel Color (yes, it is gluten-free), Garlic Powder, Spices.

The consumer affairs representative also said that many of the old formulation gravy packets are in stores so we MUST read the ingredient list before consuming any gravy related items from Butterball. Additionally, she told me the new packet is included with the stuffed whole turkeys. That’s right - a gluten turkey with a gluten-free gravy packet. There is a learning curve for companies too when it comes to the gluten-free diet. I give them credit for trying. When I mentioned that they might want to offer the gravy with a whole turkey that is not stuffed, the representative explained that if the response to this gravy is positive, that might be something the company will do later.

I’m familiar with the ‘Lil Butterball turkey but have never seen the Ready-to-Roast version. You can bet I’ll be looking for it on my next trip to the grocery store, even though I don’t care that much for gravy. I just want to check it out because I can. For me it’s kind of like the movie ‘Field of Dreams’ – make gluten-free gravy and they will come!

The Turkey Talk-Line toll free number is 1-800-BUTTERBALL, in case you have questions or just want to thank the company for making gluten-free gravy. I am very thankful that a company like Butterball is paying attention to the gluten-free market and this is the season to give thanks, after all.

If you want to make your own gravy from scratch, you might want to check out the gravy recipe that Kay secretly serves to glutenoids!

by TIFFANY on NOVEMBER 10, 2009
Source: http://www.triumphdining.com/blog/gluten-free/2009/11/butterball-now-offers-gluten-free-gravy/?utm_source=Triumph%20Dining%20List&utm_campaign=dad75dc30c-Nov_Newsletter_211_18_2009&utm_medium=email

Gluten Free Turkey

***The Holidays will soon be upon us and I would like to clarify whether Butterball turkeys are safe. I have been under the impression that Butterball turkeys contain preservatives that are not gluten free; I have switched to using only fresh turkeys. However, it seems I saw something in your newsletter that Butterball turkeys were safe to use. This has always been our family's favorite brand until my son was diagnosed with gluten allergies and would certainly enjoy using again if safe.

Dear Reader,

Butterball says it will list wheat if it is in any of its products including turkeys. I believe their regular turkeys have nothing added, but I would avoid the self-basting products from any company as well as any gravy packets that might be included with the turkeys. Keep in mind that most turkeys do not have anything added and, like other plains meats, would be safe for a gluten-free diet. Nevertheless here is a partial list of brands that I know are gluten-free.

Empire Kosher Turkeys
Honeysuckle White
Jennie-O
Perdue
ShadyBrook Farms
Pilgrim’s Pride
Shelton’s
Heritage

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Cooking. Beth

Source: Glutenfree.com newsletter

Gluten-free takes the cake in snack food products

The market for gluten-free snacks is exploding. Once the exclusive arena of niche brands, now even mainstream manufacturers are getting on board. This summer, General Mills rolled out a line of gluten-free cookie, brownie and cake mixes under its Betty Crocker brand. In 2006, the company converted its Rice Chex cereal to a gluten-free product. General Mills research showed that 12% of U.S. households want to eliminate or reduce their gluten intake. Part of the increased interest in gluten-free products is a spike in the number of patients diagnosed with Celiac disease. Incidence of the immune system disorder has increased dramatically in the last half century. Research from the Mayo Clinic suggested that young people today are 4.5 times as likely to have Celiac disease as were young people in the 1950s. Even consumers without wheat allergies are showing an interest in eliminating or reducing the amount of wheat in their bodies. “We’re seeing a lot more interest from consumers who are opting to reduce their wheat intake,” said Christine Brown, marketing manager at Addison, Ill.-based Natural Snacks. Nature’s Path Foods’ EnviroKidz line of crispy rice bars and animal cookies has performed well in the grocery channel. Kari Ramsey, a spokeswoman for Nature’s Path Foods, agreed that the appeal of gluten-free foods isn’t limited to consumers with Celiac disease. Nature’s Path is one of the largest players in the category—the company’s EnviroKidz line of crispy rice bars and animal cookies has performed well in the grocery channel. “For some people, opting for gluten-free foods is a lifestyle choice rather than a health-motivated choice,” Ramsey said. Consumers should have no problem finding an array of foods to fit their needs. More than 1,000 new gluten-free products were launched in 2008, according to Mintel Global New Products Database. Another 552 products were introduced through July 20. Cereal bars, snacks and sweets saw the most new product introductions. Gluten-free cereals are one of the most rapidly growing segments in the health-and-wellness cereal category, according to Kent Spaulding, VP marketing for San Francisco-based Barbara’s Bakery. Spaulding said his company’s gluten-free products are growing at a rate of more than 30% annually. A recent report from Packaged Facts estimated that gluten-free products had a compound annual growth of 28% between 2004 and 2008, with sales reaching $1.56 billion. Supermarkets accounted for 30% of sales, and health food and specialty stores accounted for another 30% of sales. Drug stores largely have stayed away from the business, but maybe it’s time to rethink the strategy. “Consumers go to a drug store for products that make them feel healthier,” Brown said. Gluten-free snacks certainly fit that profile for a growing number of customers. Natural Snacks’ gluten-free business grew 78% last year, according to Brown. Natural Snacks, which is expanding its offerings, is adding single-serves of its most popular baked flavors to its lineup. The 100-calorie, .75-oz. bags will retail for 99 cents. Source

More info on the EnviroKidz bars...

For those of you who took part in this deal on EnviroKidz bars wherein buying them from Vitamin Shoppe via Amazon supposedly made them $5/case, I have good news and bad news.

The bad news, of course, is that Vitamin Shoppe intended that to be $5/box, not for a whole case. As we are all now discovering, those of us who ordered a case are receiving just a box.

The good news is that I’ve been pretty impressed with the customer service at Vitamin Shoppe; when I called (1-800-223-1216), I was transferred to Customer Care and they explained that my refund will have to come from directly Amazon, but that they would arrange for that. When I asked how I could return the bars, they told me to just keep them.

I’d rather have the two cases I ordered for $11ish shipped, sure; but in lieu of that, I’m sure not going to complain about two free boxes.

Dig our your order number and call. As always, be pleasant—it’s not the fault of the call center person that they screwed up the web site. They realize this is a problem, and they’re scrambling to fix it. In my mind, they’re handling it as well as they possibly can, and despite the error, I will likely shop them again.

Too Good to be True

Sorry to those folks who ordered the bars...

Well I ordered them and got one box of 6 bars. However, since their site clearly states the buyer is saving $19.01 (79%) it is obvious that this is supposed to be a case sale, so I have lodged a complaint. For now, you may want to tell your readers this is indeed too good to be true.

Great deal on EnviroKidz Organic Koala Crispy Rice Bars!

Normally I'm not one to promote a sale but this is kind of an exception. With tough economic times facing us all, the higher costs often associated with eating gluten free, getting a deal on a GF goody is a good thing, getting this kind of deal is a GREAT thing.

So, we first discovered the EnviroKidz Organic Koala Crispy Rice Bars years ago. They’re basically a healthy, organic version of chocolate rice crispy bars. Yum! And Amazon is currently offering a case of six boxes (36 bars in total) for about $18, or around $12 after coupon and Subscribe & Save, which is pretty good.

A friend of mine clicked through to the “other buying options” and let me know she discovered that the same case of 36 bars is currently being offered for $4.99 plus $.99 shipping through The Vitamin Shoppe. Just in case math isn’t your thing, let me make that a little clearer for you: That’s less than seventeen cents per bar! For a gluten-free, organic snack.

So go shopping and enjoy a cheap treat.

Get a Free Sample of Betty Crocker's Gluten Free Mix

Betty Crocker is giving away coupons for one FREE SAMPLE of their gluten free mixes.
Call their customer service number to get your coupon today!
1-800-446-1898

I work at General Mills in consumer services and I just wanted to let you all know that we are blown away at the number of people that have contacted us today alone for the free coupon. We haven’t seen anything like this in. . .well. . .maybe ever? LOL I have worked there for 3 years and the volume of calls we had today was unbelievable. Everyone that we talked to today were so excited and SO patient considering how long they had to wait on hold before they were able to get one of us. If you didn’t get through try again tomorrow or next week. We haven’t been told when this will end but based on today I can’t imagine them stopping it soon LOL. We knew that the gluten free mixes were going to be a hit but this is really overwhelming. Thank you all again for your patience and for being so easy to talk to. I hope to talk with more of you soon!!