GLUTEN-FREE DIETING HAS GAINED CONSIDERABLE popularity in the general population.1-3 Between 2004 and 2011 the market for gluten-free products grew at a compound annual growth rate of 28%, with annual sales expected to reach approximately $2.6 billion in 2012.2 As of April 20, 2012, Amazon.com listed 4,765 entries for the topic “gluten-free.” A Google search at the same time for “gluten-free diet” produced more than 4.2 million results. The number-one reason consumers cite for buying gluten-free products is that they are perceived to be healthier than their gluten-containing counterparts.
