Gluten-Free: What to Know and Where It’s Going
Are you struggling with gluten intolerance or simply curious about the benefits of a gluten-free diet? You're not alone. Whether you are someone who enjoys following food and beverage trends and trying new diets or you have specific reasons for adhering to certain dietary restrictions, you are probably familiar with the gluten-free label on food and beverages in stores and restaurants. We will take a look at some of the top questions when it comes to gluten-free options, discuss the gluten-free market, and examine some gluten-free products.
What Does Gluten-Free Mean?
Gluten is a family of naturally occurring proteins in wheat, rye, barley, and crossbreeds of these grains (like triticale which is a hybrid of wheat and rye). Some people choose to eat a gluten-free diet to help with headaches, chronic fatigue, weight loss, and depression; however, there is currently no scientific evidence supporting these claims. While some people choose to eat gluten-free out of personal preference, others require a gluten-free diet for health reasons. Auto-immune disorders like celiac disease and gluten ataxia and wheat allergies and non-celiac gluten sensitivity are examples of health conditions that lead people to a gluten-free diet. Perhaps the most talked about amongst these conditions is celiac disease. Celiac disease occurs when the immune system reacts to gluten by attacking the lining of the small intestine which can lead to gastrointestinal symptoms and other serious health problems. According to the FDA, an estimated 3 million Americans have celiac disease, and since there is no cure for celiac disease, the only remedy is eating a gluten-free diet.
Certified Gluten-Free
With the risk of serious health problems for people with underlying health conditions eating gluten, it is important to have a reliable gluten-free certification. Some of the common “gluten-free” labels found on foods are “gluten-free,” “without gluten,” “free of gluten,” and “no gluten.” The US Food and Drug Administration has created a standardized definition of “gluten-free” in August 2013 and August 2020 that applies to these kinds of labels. Amongst the “gluten-free” criteria, foods and beverages labeled as “gluten-free” must test below 20 ppm (parts per million) for the unavoidable presence of gluten. In addition, a “gluten-free” labeled food must not contain “an ingredient that is any type of wheat, rye, barley, or crossbreeds of these grains, an ingredient derived from these grains and that has not been processed to remove gluten, or an ingredient derived from these grains that has been processed to remove gluten, if it results in the food containing 20 or more ppm gluten” (FDA). A product labelled as gluten-free (or a variation of this term) that adheres to the FDA’s criteria can help consumers feel confident when purchasing products and hopefully help them to enjoy their products more as well!
Products
As you can probably deduce from the definition of gluten, gluten can typically be found in breads, cakes, cereals, and pastas, and with the demand for gluten-free and the continuous growth of the gluten-free market, it’s important to know what foods and products are permitted in a gluten-free diet. While most whole foods like fruits, vegetables, dairy, eggs, and meat are gluten-free, it is important check the label for certain additives and what other foods may have been processed in the same facility leading to potential cross-contamination with gluten.
While many consumers are aware of the restrictions that come with choosing gluten-free foods, it is also important to be aware of possible restrictions when it comes to beverages. As previously stated, it is good practice to always read the label and ingredients list to verify, but in general, water, pure fruit juices, milk, plain coffee, and plain tea are all gluten-free. Beverages containing malt should be avoided, and beer, lager, stout, and ale typically contain gluten. Additionally, there are also fruit and barley squashes, like Robinson’s, that are not gluten-free because of the barley ingredient.
Although Graasi is a barley water, it is made with barley grass juice powder. This is an important point of differentiation from the barley grain. Barley grass juice powder is made from barley grass which is harvested at its peak nutrient value. When barley grass is harvested, the gluten has not yet formed which makes Graasi barley water gluten-free! Graasi Organic Barley Water is the perfect gluten-free wellness water -- whether you’re gluten-free or not – and offers the health benefits of barley grass juice powder and the recommended daily value of vitamins C, D, and zinc. Graasi is a convenient and nutrient-dense barley water for those with gluten intolerance or choosing a gluten-free diet.
Gluten-Free Market
Regardless of your reason for eating gluten-free, the demand for gluten-free food and beverage is present, necessary, and growing. According to a December 2023 report by The Brainy Insights, the gluten-free products market in the U.S. is expected to grow from USD 6.1 billion to USD 15.1 billion by 2032. This growth is driven by the increasing intolerance towards gluten products. The global gluten-free market also shows no signs of slowing down. Fortune Business Insights projects the global gluten-free market to grow at a CAGR of 8.33% during the 2024-2032 period.
Conclusion
Gluten-free is an important dietary restriction for many people, and the gluten-free market shows no signs of slowing down. Whatever your reasons are for eating a gluten-free diet, there are many gluten-free products and gluten-free alternatives available for consumers in both food and beverages. While it may have been more difficult several years ago to find gluten-free products and alternatives that were also enjoyable and tasted good, the gluten-free market is making huge improvements. At Graasi, we’re proud to offer consumers a healthy and certified organic gluten-free beverage. Taste the benefits for yourself and try Graasi today!
Sources:
Gluten Free: Definition, Foods, and Who Needs to Eat It (health.com)
'Gluten-Free' Means What It Says | FDA
Gluten-free Food Market Size, Share & Growth | Forecast [2032] (fortunebusinessinsights.com)
Gluten-Free Foods List (healthline.com)
Drinks you can and can't enjoy if you're gluten free - Free From (free-from.com)