Dairy-free, gluten-free, plant-based meats — these are just some of the food trends taking the place of diet staples, and that have the “free-from” food industry booming.
There are eight allergens identified by the FDA that companies promote their products as being free from: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans. Additionally, there are ingredients consumers choose to avoid for dietary preference, health or other reasons.
Gluten-free has been the widest spread of the free-from foods before oat milk usurped the position in 2019. Zion Market Research predicts the gluten-free product market will reach $7.6 billion by 2024. The market is expected to grow 8%-10% over the next five years both because of dietary reasons and allergies.
Oat milk rose to popularity in a similar way. The need for lactose- and dairy-free milks rose with allergies but boomed as the public became more educated on milk practices and the options available. In fact, the oat milk market alone is projected to reach $1.7 billion by 2024, according to Research and Markets.
