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.
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.
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.
Think of this a viewpoint from 30,000 feet. Actually, that's literally the case because I'm writing this on the plane home from the 2012 Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, Calif.
Sometimes a lack of big news during a year is actually good news. Bakery companies that remember the Atkins Diet and its characterization of carbohydrates as the devil incarnate can breathe a sigh of relief that 2011 did not bring about any such black swans. Still, 2011 will go down as a slightly off year for baked goods, with declines in some categories outweighing gains in other categories.