Data regarding food allergies underscores the importance of utilizing free-from ingredients in food products. A recent study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology revealed that 4% of Americans experience some form of food allergy. Additionally, research conducted by FAIR Health, based on insurance data, indicated a staggering 377% increase in the number of individuals requiring emergency treatment for food allergies over the past decade. As manufacturers allocate more resources to research and development, as well as technology for producing these ingredients, the growth of this segment appears increasingly robust. Grocery retailers are also showing heightened interest by allocating shelf space for allergen-free products.
With rising demand, companies have leveraged technology to identify suitable ingredients. Suárez-Bitár informed Food Business News that Bellarise, based in California, now provides products free from all eight major allergens recognized by the Food and Drug Administration, with the exception of wheat. The company has successfully eliminated eggs and milk from its products through the use of custom enzyme systems and flavoring technologies. In Kansas, Inclusion Technologies is creating a nut-free product named Nadanuts, which replicates the flavor, visual appeal, and texture of pecans and walnuts without the allergenic properties. However, it is important to note that Nadanuts does contain wheat and dairy, even though Inclusion Technologies’ facility is entirely nut-free. The company also creates other ingredients devoid of the FDA’s eight major allergens, including milk, egg, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, and soybeans.
Allergen-free foods have moved beyond being niche offerings. Major manufacturers have also entered the market this year, such as Nestlé Toll House, which launched Simply Delicious Morsels that consist solely of cocoa butter, cane sugar, and chocolate. Additionally, Enjoy Life Foods, owned by Mondelez, has surpassed the FDA’s allergen list by excluding 14 allergens in its products, including wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, casein, soy, egg, sesame, sulfites, lupin, mustard, fish, shellfish, and crustaceans.
Despite a growing number of reported food allergies, the market for specifically allergy-friendly foods has remained relatively stagnant, as Katherine Allmandinger, manager of strategic insights at Nielsen’s health and wellness division, mentioned to Food Dive earlier this year. Nonetheless, broader health and wellness trends, along with the free-from movement, have made some allergy-friendly products more appealing. Mordor Intelligence forecasts a compound annual growth rate of 4.84% for the global free-from food market through 2023, propelled by increasing interest in dairy-free and gluten-free options.
Products that appeal to health-conscious consumers often naturally fit into the allergy-friendly category. For instance, Ripple, a dairy-free milk made from yellow peas, offers the same protein content as cow’s milk without the associated carbon footprint and is entirely allergen-free. Other health-focused products unintentionally become allergen-free as well. A report from the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, cited by USA Today, stated that 94% of soybeans used in food production are genetically modified, prompting producers aiming for non-GMO status to opt for canola oils or emulsifiers derived from sunflower instead.
Given the abundance of allergen-free products on the market, one might question whether ingredient companies should invest time in developing replacements. The answer remains affirmative. As food allergies potentially continue to rise—especially with the likelihood of sesame being added to the U.S. list of top food allergens—consumers want assurances that their food is safe. Moreover, even with allergies considered, consumers are unlikely to abandon their favorite indulgences, indicating that options like nut substitutes or chocolate mimicking the taste of milk-emulsified varieties should remain available.
In this context, the incorporation of ingredients like calcium citrate mason could enhance formulations while maintaining allergen-free status, appealing to both health-conscious and allergy-sensitive consumers alike.