Finally, some news gluten-free dieters – and pizza lovers – can rejoice over. Domino’s – the world’s largest delivery pizza chain – is announcing today that it’s planing to sell a pizza made with gluten-free crust. This decision comes after many customers began requesting a gluten-free option from the pizza giant.
“We are the first national pizza delivery chain to offer this,” said Domino’s CMO Russel Weiner. He does note, however, that while the crust is entirely gluten-free, it is baked in ovens with pizzas containing gluten, so those who are extremely gluten sensitive should be cautious.
The pizza crust is made from rice flour, potato starch, rice starch and olive oil, and costs $12 – which is about $3 more than their regularly priced pies, as most gluten-free products cost more than their gluten-containing counterparts.
Domino’s reportedly worked with the national Foundation for Celiac Awareness to bring the organization’s standards to their kitchens and employees. Alice Bast, president of the foundation, says that gluten free is becoming a selling point, and that the number one request they get from gluten-free customers is for gluten-free pizza and beer.
According to DietsInReview.com’s Registered Dietitian, Mary Hartley, RD, A gluten-free diet is used to treat celiac disease. The disease is genetically-determined immune system reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, and to gluten intolerance – an enzymatic deficiency similar to lactose intolerance. “For everyone else, a gluten-free diet is a preference, not a necessity,” says Hartley. “As with all modified diets, nutritional challenges arise when food are limited.”
Gluten-free dieters must make a lifelong commitment to carefully reading all food labels. Hartley recommends several organizations that provide reliable information, including celiac.com and zeer.com.
According to an article from USA Today, several other restaurants and food and beverage producers are jumping on the gluten-free bandwagon – which is reportedly a $6.2 billion industry – including P.F. Chang’s, Frito-Lay and Anheusher-Busch.
P.F. Chang’s is a leader in the initiative with more than 25 gluten-free menu items, including their gluten-free Caramel Mango Chicken and Asian Tomato Cucumber Salad, as well as their gluten-free soy sauce.
Joining the trend is also Frito-Lay, which begun offering identifying their gluten-free offerings with special “GF” icons or statements on the packaging. And Anheusher-Busch is announcing today that they too will be offering a gluten-free product: Michelob Ultra Light Cider, which joins Redbridge – released in 2006 as the first gluten-free beer available nation-wide.
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