Perhaps no company has taken gluten free into more segments than Hain Celestial, whose Arrowhead Mills brand recently added two new varieties: Organic Gluten Free Sprouted Corn Flakes made with sprouted corn, brown rice and sorghum; and Gluten Free Quinoa Rice & Shine Hot Cereal, made with a blend of quinoa flakes and organic brown rice grits.

Whether fueled by celebrity dieting efforts or genuine dietary need (or even both), the market for allergen-free products in the U.S. continues to grow, but the surge is by no means confined stateside.

Gluten-free bakery launches around the world have trended toward sweet territory, with certain products managing to make the treats sound some degree healthier than their mainstream counterparts.

Crunchmaster, a manufacturer of gluten-free crackers, announced its new line of kid-friendly snack crisps -- Cheddar Cheezy Crisps and Cinnamon & Sugar Grammy Crisps.

Smart Balance has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Udi's Healthy Foods LLC for $125 million.

Clif Kit’s Organic, the company’s new snack bar made with 100% organic fruit and nuts, is now on shelves nationwide in natural food and select grocery stores.

PepsiCo's Frito-Lay North America division announced a multi-year initiative to validate many of their products as gluten free, with package labeling to follow.

Any allergen-free efforts must not be done halfway.

Flavor Mill’s Baked Potato Chips are available in Cheddar & Sour Cream and Original varieties, but the true selling point will be their kosher certification and lack of gluten. Each 9oz package contains 3g of fat, no cholesterol or trans fat, and only 0.5g of saturated fat.

Below are some of the highlights from the 2012 Natural Products Expo West, which again saw a sizable number of gluten-free introductions, as well as a number of notable introductions focusing on other trends.