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Gluten-Free Nonfood Designations Growing

DAYTON, Ohio — Gluten-free designations are cropping up on ingestible nonfoods as well as cosmetics, lotions and other products absorbed by the skin.

Body care products that are labeled gluten-free or certified as such, have grown 43%, said Cynthia Kupper, executive director of the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America, during “The Gluten Free Movement Within Specialty Foods” webinar hosted last month by the NASFT.

Topical products void of gluten appeal to Americans who’ve eliminated the protein composite from their diets for a number of reasons.

While gluten has to enter a celiac sufferers’ digestive tract to do damage, parents fearing accidental ingestion sometimes purchase these products for their kids.

“If you think about children washing their hair, they’re always getting shampoo in their mouth,” Kupper told SN.

Then there are those diagnosed with a chronic skin disorder called Dermatitis Herpetiformis — an autoimmune gluten intolerance disease linked with celiac disease and marked by watery itchy skin blisters. Reactions are triggered after ingesting gluten, but cautious sufferers avoid the substance, found in wheat, rye and barley, altogether.

“If gluten impacts their skin, then they get nervous about their skin and skin products,” Kupper said.

Still others, like C.A. Diltz who spearheads gluten-free programs at Dorothy Lane Market, suffer from gluten sensitivity and use gluten-free personal care products to avoid irritation of the skin and scalp.

“If I were to wash my hands in wheat germ oil, they’d turn red and get itchy and blotchy,” related Diltz.

She endorses gluten-free health and beauty-brand Keys and its moisturizer, shampoo and hand soap. The Allaffia skincare line, Acure hair care products and Tom’s of Maine toothpaste sold at DLM are also safe to use, said Diltz.

Gluten-free labels are even present in the upscale market’s pet food aisle on brands like Blue Sky. The dog food sells well since Diltz encourages members of DLM’s Gluten-Free Food Lover’s Club to avoid cross-contamination with gluten-free pet food.
Gluten-free diets are also commonly prescribed by a local veterinarian.

“She says that the hip problems dogs have are because people are feeding dogs food with a ton of fillers — primarily wheat,” noted Diltz.

Prescription medication can also be problematic. DLM will address the issue this Sunday, when compounding pharmacist Robyn Crow from Clark’s pharmacy, Huber Heights, Ohio, will discuss allergen-free prescription compounds at a Gluten-Free Food Lover’s Club meeting.

The market for gluten-free products has grown to about 40 million consumers — up to four million of which suffer from celiac disease, a medical condition that requires that they avoid eating gluten, according to Kupper.

An additional 18 to 22 million eat gluten-free to manage gluten sensitivity. Add to that about 12 million consumers who are classified as gluten-intolerant and experience GI distress, but have not given up gluten completely. An additional three million purchase gluten-free products for fad or non-medical reasons, Kupper said.

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