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Gluten-free. Dairy-free. Nut-free. Peanutfree. Allergen-free. The food marketplace increasingly features such claims on product labels, but what do they mean? Do regulatory agencies police use of such terms?
Food products with "free" claims are primarily intended for consumers with food allergies and related illnesses.
Gluten-free foods have been around for many years and are primarily intended for consumers with celiac disease, making them unable to tolerate the gluten proteins of wheat, rye, barley and related grains. The gluten-free food market has exploded in recent years due to consumers who do not have celiac disease, but purchase gluten-free products anyway. These consumers cite various reasons for selecting gluten-free foods:
* They feel better on a gluten-free diet.
* Gluten-free aids in weight loss. (This has not yet been proved.)
* A gluten-free diet can combat depression. (This also has not been proved.)
Dairy-free foods have also been marketed for decades. Most were probably originally intended for consumers with lactose intolerance and thus experience mild intestinal discomfort after eating dairy products. Today, dairy-free foods must also...