Recently, the Food Channel presented its Top Ten Food Trends for 2010. Top Food Trend #7 was food with benefits.
…this trend toward beneficial foods is growing at a pretty big rate. Expect food to either have nutrients added, or have the word “free” (gluten-free, allergy-free).
Gluten-free has been a prominent food trend for the last two years. CPGs have started to label gluten-free products prominently on their packaging. In addition, other consumer package goods companies (e.g., General Mills Rice Chex) have converted their venerable brands to gluten-free. Last year, Elisabeth Hasselback wrote about being on a gluten-free diet that propelled celiac disease into US households. The Food Channel is not the only one to name gluten-free as a key variable this year. The Daily Beast has named gluten-free food as number three on their Ten Food Trends For 2010 list. However, there is a lot of noise on whether gluten free has the staying power of a trend or if gluten free is just a fad.
Key points to consider:
1. Other than people diagnosed with celiac disease, many are experimenting with a gluten-free diet to see if it will provide relief or alleviate some of their symptoms for a variety of conditions (e.g., MS, irritable bowel syndrome, autism).
2. Those with celiac disease have no real solution other than to follow a gluten-free diet (or else one must deal with the annoying and painful symptoms of celiac disease).
3. Even if it is just a momentary fad for many, those with celiac disease or those who strongly adhere to a gf diet are the biggest winners. The more focus and attention that retailers and CPGs give to creating gluten-free products helps drive the price of products and increases the availability of those products in mainstream stores.
Bottom line:
Awareness and education. While gluten free might be “fashionable” and very of the moment, it has long-term benefits. More people will be aware and educated on what defines a gluten-free diet.
Recently, the Food Channel presented its Top Ten Food Trends for 2010. Top Food Trend #7 was food with benefits.
Gluten-free has been a prominent food trend for the last two years. CPGs have started to label gluten-free products prominently on their packaging. In addition, other consumer package goods companies (e.g., General Mills Rice Chex) have converted their venerable brands to gluten-free. Last year, Elisabeth Hasselback wrote about being on a gluten-free diet that propelled celiac disease into US households. The Food Channel is not the only one to name gluten-free as a key variable this year. The Daily Beast has named gluten-free food as number three on their Ten Food Trends For 2010 list. However, there is a lot of noise on whether gluten free has the staying power of a trend or if gluten free is just a fad.
Key points to consider:
1. Other than people diagnosed with celiac disease, many are experimenting with a gluten-free diet to see if it will provide relief or alleviate some of their symptoms for a variety of conditions (e.g., MS, irritable bowel syndrome, autism).
2. Those with celiac disease have no real solution other than to follow a gluten-free diet (or else one must deal with the annoying and painful symptoms of celiac disease).
3. Even if it is just a momentary fad for many, those with celiac disease or those who strongly adhere to a gf diet are the biggest winners. The more focus and attention that retailers and CPGs give to creating gluten-free products helps drive the price of products and increases the availability of those products in mainstream stores.
Bottom line:
Awareness and education. While gluten free might be “fashionable” and very of the moment, it has long-term benefits. More people will be aware and educated on what defines a gluten-free diet.