Allergen- and Gluten-Sensitive Consumers: What Manufacturers Should Know
A golf instructor once told me that to play consistent golf, I needed to focus on the process first, not the result. For a novice golfer, this was the perfect time to hear this tidbit of wisdom. It is also representative of my life as a parent of a son with severe, multiple food allergies. The process of raising him with dietary restrictions involves diligence, awareness, research, teamwork and incredible trust in the food industry. The result is a healthier life.
Understanding Consumers with Allergies
Gluten-free food sales in the U.S. have already reached $2.6 billion and, according to a survey by Packaged Facts, the gluten-free market “will exceed $5 billion by 2015.”[1] The global food allergy and intolerance products market is expected to surpass $26.5 billion by 2017, according to a report released by Global Industry Analysts Inc.[2] The growth projections underscore the need for attention to providing quality safe food products to consumers with food allergies or intolerances.