There’s no denying that the “gluten-free” craze is still at its height. Food labels proclaiming a lack of this frequently noticed element are easier to find these days, especially since those with a sensitivity or allergy to gluten can have very particular restrictions over the way their food is handled. But how common are such conditions, and does the gluten-free market appeal to people who don’t suffer from them, as well as those who do?
That’s a question recently posed in an article on Gastroenterology and Endoscopy News, which examines this phenomenon and makes an interesting assertion. Although fewer than 7 million people have been apparently diagnosed with sensitivities to gluten in the United States, excesses of $4 billion are spent each year on foods without gluten. And while the amount of those with medical conditions affected by gluten is said to be increasing, it seems to be vastly out of proportion when compared to these sales figures.
In any event, alerting consumers to gluten’s presence can be important for food manufacturers. Even if they consider those with celiac disease or other related conditions to be a “niche market,” they could be cutting out a larger customer base than they imagine. Trace amounts of gluten can be found in unexpected places, according to another article from the same source, and as some of the compounds which may aggravate gluten-based conditions might not be mentioned on a certain label, food companies might be inadvertently hurting their customers.
Making labels for gluten or other ingredients could be a foolproof way to reach individuals with specific needs and those who simply want to try such foods out of health interest. A Primera LX900 color label printer can aid in these kinds of endeavors by making additional product labels a less daunting proposition.
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