Gluten Free Products for Hospitality

What is gluten, anyway?
So what is gluten and why is it a problem for some people? Gluten is a protein group found in certain starches and grains including wheat, rye and barley. Oats are also often included in the same group as there is still debate about gluten content. People who are genetically predisposed to gluten intolerance suffer from the autoimmune disorder known as celiac disease. When a person has celiac disease, foods containing gluten inhibit vital nutrient absorption by damaging the lining of the small intestine. The only way to treat celiac disease is by following a strict, 100% gluten-free diet.

Statistics
Studies have concluded that about 1 in 133 Americans (approximately 3 Million) are affected by celiac disease, but at this point in time only 1-2% of celiacs have been diagnosed. In addition, many more people live with other forms of gluten sensitivity and choose to eliminate gluten from their diets for other reasons, including wheat allergies and low-carb dieting.

Based on these statistics, the demand for gluten free products and accommodations will continue to increase as more people are diagnosed and placed on gluten free diets. Hotels, restaurants and resorts are seeing a greater demand from customers requesting quality gluten free cuisine.

Cooking Gluten Free
While basic foods such as meats and vegetables are naturally gluten free, baked goods, deserts, and processed foods can be a real challenge. When preparing recipes with combinations of ingredients, particular care must be taken to evaluate each individual ingredient for wheat/gluten content in order to avoid contamination. To make matters trickier, gluten is rarely listed specifically as an ingredient. Here is a basic list of ingredients to watch out for: Gluten Free Unsafe Ingredients

Simple Solutions
We have developed a selection of core products that make serving your gluten free guests a breeze. While we do sell to the general public, our specialty is supplying hotels, resorts and restaurants with the products and expertise they need to create an exceptional experience for their guests. Please contact us and we'll be happy to provide you with personalized guidance and free product samples to get you started.