Exclusive Online Article: Gluten-free Goodies
As gluten-free foods continue to gain in consumer popularity and store-shelf prominence, manufacturers are offering a wider range of products to appeal to those suffering from celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, and their families, as well as to shoppers who wish simply to reduce or eliminate their gluten intake. Following are some recently introduced offerings:
-HAPPYBABY: The New York-based premium organic baby and toddler food brand has launched two gluten-free varieties in its organic HAPPYBABYPUFFS line. The first and (so far) only gluten-free puffs on the market, the items come in Sweet Potato and Strawberry flavors. As well as being gluten-free, the puffs provide a rich source of vitamin D, a critical nutrient for infants; are to only baby snacks to feature added vitamin B and calcium; and contain half the sugar of similar products. The SRP ranges from $2.99 to $3.69. For more information, visit www.happybabyfoods.com
-Amy’s Kitchen: Consisting of organic gluten-free tortillas wrapped around organic pinto beans, rice and vegetables in a mild Mexican sauce, Amy’s Gluten Free Bean & Cheese Burrito and Gluten Free, Dairy Free Bean & Rice Burrito contain under 300 calories, less than 8 grams of fat and up to 9 grams of protein per serving, according to the Petaluma, Calif.-based company. The SRP for a 5.5-ounce frozen burrito is $3.19. For more information, visit www.amyskitchen.com.
-The Mediterranean Snack Food Co.: The winner of a Silver sofi Award at the recent 56th Annual Summer Fancy Food Show, the Mediterranean Snack Food Co.’s all-natural, gluten-free Sea Salt Baked Lentil Chips are part of a product line that also includes Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper and Cucumber Dill varieties. The snack also boasts 70 percent less fat than regular potato chips, the Boonton, N.J.-based manufacturer notes. The SRP range for a 4.5-ounce bag is $3.49 to $3.99. For more information, visit www.mediterraneansnackfoods.com.
-Stubb’s Legendary Kitchen: The nation’s No. 1 brand of super-premium barbecue sauces, rubs and marinades has become the only mainstream national BBQ brand to receive the Gluten-Free Certification Organization’s (GFCO) seal for its entire line. The reformulated line sports a new label design incorporating the GFCO seal. Using cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup as a sweetener, the all-natural barbecue sauces from the Austin, Texas-based company come in Original, Spicy, Mild, Smokey Mesquite, Honey Pecan and Hickory Bourbon varieties, while the marinades are available Beef, Chicken, Pork, Texas Steakhouse, Moppin’ Sauce and Wing Sauce flavors. An 18-ounce bottle of sauce or marinade goes for a suggested $3.99. For more information, visit www.stubbsbbq.com.
-Ian’s Natural Foods: The Lawrence, Mass.-based creator and manufacturer of high-quality, all-natural and allergen-free foods has added several new items to its kid-friendly frozen food line: Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free Chicken Tenders, made with whole-muscle all-white meat chicken breast and coated with crunchy corn breading, and Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free Pepperoni French Bread Pizza, topped with organic, all-natural pepperoni. Also new to the company is Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free Chocolate Wafer Bites, a crispy snack or dessert that comes in a family-sized package. SRPs are $6.49 for a 7-ounce box of the chicken tenders, $5.99 for an 8-ounce box of the pizza and $4.99 for a 5-ounce box of the wafer bites. For more information, visit www.iansnaturalfoods.com.
-Passage Foods: Each Passage to Thailand Simmer Sauce is a recipe of traditional ethnic cuisine created to deliver authentic restaurant-quality flavor. The varieties are Pad Thai, Thai Basil and Sweet Chili, Tom Yum and Red Thai Curry sauces. With spices sourced directly from various regions of Thailand and Southeast Asia, each product is free of gluten, MSG, GMOs and preservatives. The sauces are a part of a three-step meal solution: add the sauce to meat, seafood or vegetables; simmer; and serve over rice for a gourmet meal in less than 20 minutes. The SRP range for a 200-gram (approximately 7-ounce) pouch is $3.99 to 4.29. For more information, visit www.passagefoods.com.
For additional information on gluten-free products and marketing, check out the August 2010 issue for our Editors’ Picks feature and “Life-saving Supermarkets,” an article by Bob Gatty on how retailers are rising to the challenge of assisting customers with gluten issues and diabetes.