Sales of Food Allergy & Intolerance Products To Jump 17% In 2004.

About 1 in 25 people in the U.S. suffers from one or more food allergies. Among these 11 million Americans are infants and children, whose cases of food allergies appear to be on the rise. Add to these numbers the millions who experience food intolerance, and you arrive at a market for food allergy and intolerance products that is projected to reach $3.9 billion by 2008, according to “The U.S. Market for Food Allergy and Food Intolerance Products,” a new report by market research publisher Packaged Facts.

Lactose intolerance is most common, and is especially prevalent in African American, Asian American, and Hispanic populations-a fact that few marketers have addressed in any significant way, the report found. Many other sensitivities once thought to be extremely rare have been found to be much more prevalent – gluten intolerance, for example, may affect 1 in 133 people.

The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act, enacted in 2004, promises to establish clear and consistent guidelines for the identification of allergens in food ingredient labels. The law requires all food marketers to supply clear information about the presence of major allergens, including milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, and soybeans.

“In addition to their vital role for people with serious food allergies (and their families), allergen-free foods are also beginning to experience a crossover of interest with more general wellness and diet trends, especially in the dairy alternatives and baked goods, pasta, and wheat categories,” said Don Montuori, Acquisitions Editor for Packaged Facts.

For more information at http://www.packagedfacts.com