Market for food allergy and intolerance products set to hit $26.5bn in five years, says GIA

22-Apr-2012 - Last updated on 23-Apr-2012 at 14:44 GMT

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The global market for foods developed for those with food allergies and intolerances is expected to grow to more than $26.5bn over the next five years, according to a new report from Global Industry Analysts (GIA).

In its new report, “Food Allergy and Intolerance Products: A Global Strategic Business Report”, the market researcher said the growth in demand for these products has been driven by an increasing number of food allergies and sensitivities, particularly in the United States, where the incidence of food allergy is estimated to have grown by about 18.5% over the past decade.

“Additionally growth in the marketplace is also expected to stem from the increasing preference for wheat-free and gluten-free diets, advancements in diagnosis of allergies, improved labeling regulations, and also through the launch of innovative and appetizing products,” it said.

The report highlights lactose-free products as one area of particular growth, as about 35m to 50m Americans are thought to be lactose intolerant. Large portions of the African American and Native American populations cannot tolerate lactose, but the highest prevalence is in the Asian American population, in which as many as nine in ten are lactose intolerant.

“The huge rise in demand for lactose-free products has led several companies to focus on formulation of dairy-free products, through modification of the processing techniques and dosages,” GIA said.

Apart from the growing market for lactose-free products, the researcher said that the US marketplace has become flooded with gluten-free foods, and manufacturers have made strides to improve their taste and texture.

“The quality and taste of gluten-free products has improved drastically over the years, taking away from the dry crumbly cardboard textured rice bread and rice cakes available then. Consumers now have a variety of options to choose in the baked products category, including baking mixes, ready-to-eat, or flours and starches. Today, the market is flooded with an assortment of gluten-free bakery products, such as breads, bagels, muffins, entrees, cakes, cookies, doughnuts, baking mixes, pastas, pizza, side dishes, cereals, snack foods, and soups.”

2 comments

Seconding for the corn-allergic.

Posted by Major English, 24 April 2012 - 21:06 GMT

Came here via a Google Alert for my allergy, a corn allergy, thanks to Donnie's comment. Big Corn is the Big Oil of the food industry and it's only getting stronger. I knew it before from growing up in a home where one of my parents is corn allergic and now that I have the allergy I'm convinced there's not much for it but perhaps staring my own micro farm. The corn-allergic population is growing and I'm proof. I hear more proof every time I discuss my allergy only to hear someone say that they thought corn allergies were a myth, that they know a child diagnosed with a corn allergy that's being ignored because their parents believe they'll "get over it." We grow massive amounts of corn and fill every conceivable food with it. We feed it to cows and chickens and then absorb it through their meat. We feed farmed FISH corn supplements in this country. Not even the water is safe. Our bodies clearly weren't meant to process corn in the first place. That's why no one fully digests corn. MAKE CORN-FREE PRODUCTS. There's a market for them. I'm dying to pay for corn-free products. Please make them. If you're not concerned about my health at least accept the fact that I'll HAND YOU MY MONEY.

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Corn allergy ignored

Posted by Donnie, 23 April 2012 - 19:03 GMT

People who are allergic to corn are being ignored, despite the fact that our numbers are increasing dramatically. We have been begging the FDA, FAAN, the food industry and others to help us, and recognize corn allergy as a serious health risk for so many people. At least, see to it that corn and corn-derived ingredients and additives are labeled as corn. So, the market concerning this article will not include the corn allergic, and the food industry is not going to help people who are allergic to corn, or other foods that are not among the 'big eight' that are allowed to be considered food allergens. Considering how powerful the corn industry is, nothing will ever change. Corn will continue to be dumped into food and non-food products, without proper labels.

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