Core Naturals Announces Gluten-Free Certification for Salba

12/03/07 Core Naturals, LLC, a provider of premium ingredients for the nutrition, nutraceuticals and functional foods markets, has announced that Salba has received gluten-free certification by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO). The GFCO, a program of the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG), provides an independent service to supervise gluten-free food production according to a consistent, defined, science-based standard that is confirmed by field inspections, in order to achieve heightened consumer confidence and safety. The certification will allow Salba to carry GFCO's Gluten-Free label and serves as assurance to millions of people who suffer from Celiac disease that this nutrient-dense whole food source can be safely consumed as part of a healthy diet.

According to Mitch Propster, CEO, obtaining Gluten-Free Certification underscores Core Naturals' commitment to providing better health and nutrition to people throughout the United States. "Today, we're only just beginning to understand the millions of people who suffer from Celiac disease and the difficulty they have in maintaining a diet that controls the disorder," he said. "Salba can be a remarkable boon to this group because, as one of nature's most nutrient-dense whole foods, it can become a mainstay of a Celiac sufferer's diet. Salba is the richest whole food source of Omega-3 fatty acids found in nature. Every serving (15 grams or approximately 2 flat tablespoons) of Salba provides over 3,000 mg of Omega-3s. That same serving provides over 5,000 mg of dietary fiber, with less than 0.5 net carbohydrates per serving. Gram for gram, Salba provides six times more calcium than milk, fifteen times more magnesium than broccoli and carries a powerful Antioxidant (ORAC) rating of 1400 (forty times the strength of red wine) - and it does all this while being gluten-free," he added.

Salba should be of particular interest to consumers interested with specific health issues, including weight loss, heart health and blood-glucose stabilization. Functional foods formulated with Salba have the potential to make label claims in each of these areas. Core Naturals and other Salba groups will be showcasing their latest additions to the Salba fortified line of foods at the upcoming Natural Foods Expo West Conference in Anaheim, CA on March 9 - 11, 2007.

Growing Awareness of Celiac Disease

Celiac disease, also known as gluten intolerance, is a genetic disorder that affects 1 in 133 Americans. Symptoms of celiac disease can range from the classic features, such as diarrhea, weight loss, and malnutrition, to latent symptoms such as isolated nutrient deficiencies but no gastrointestinal symptoms. The disease mostly affects people of European (especially Northern European) descent, but recent studies show that it also affects Hispanic, Black and Asian populations. In January of this year, the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) proposed new guidelines for labeling of gluten-free foods.