Sometimes all a snack needs to take advantage of the latest health trend is a label. When it comes to gluten-free and whole grain, many conventional snacks can trumpet their natural gluten-free or whole grain status. Potato and tortilla chips should not contain gluten since they are either made from potatoes or corn. With gluten-free and whole grains being on consumers’ snacking radar, many snack producers are simply stating the obvious on the packaging.

“Tortilla chips have always been gluten-free, practically speaking, but have never been touted as such,” said Dan McGrady, vice-president, technical services, Wyandot, Inc., Marion, OH. “Now you’ll see gluten-free listed as one of the key claims.”

Frito-Lay, Inc., Plano, TX, saw the opportunity to ensure success with the growing number of shoppers looking for gluten-free snacks that required no reformulation on the part of the processor. “We’re hearing from consumers that they are looking for gluten-free options, and that’s a great opportunity for Frito-Lay because many of our snacks have always been made without gluten,” said Danielle Dalheim, registered dietitian, Frito-Lay North America. “So we started an initiative in the last few years to start labeling appropriate products as gluten-free.”