Domino's Launches Gluten-Free Pizza Crust, With A Catch
Domino's debuts gluten-free pizza crust
Domino’s on Monday became the nation’s largest pizza chain to offer a gluten-free product — except the new item may not be a viable option for those most at risk from eating gluten.
Available in all of Domino’s nearly 5,000 U.S. locations, the gluten-free pizza crust option is made from rice flour, rice starch and potato starch. It does not contain wheat, rye or barley, the three sources of gluten protein that can cause health problems for those with celiac disease and people who are gluten-sensitive.
The new pizza, however, is not recommended for those with celiac disease because of possible cross-contamination in restaurants, Domino’s said.
Because the pizzas are made in the same kitchens as pizzas with a wheat crust, gluten could be introduced to the gluten-free product. Even microbial amounts of gluten can negatively affect the digestive system of someone with celiac disease.
However, those with milder versions of gluten sensitivity could enjoy the pizza, Domino’s said, as well as consumers who choose gluten-free diets because they believe them to be healthful.
http://nrn.com/article/dominos-debuts-gluten-free-pizza-crust
Domino's Launches Gluten-Free Pizza Crust, With A Catch
Domino's Pizza has launched a gluten-free pizza crust available at all of its nearly 5,000 stores in the U.S. It is the first major national delivery chain to offer a gluten-free crust.
The company consulted with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness which offers an official accreditation program to restaurants that serve gluten-free items. Here's where things get a bit tricky though. Domino's explains in a press release:
While Domino's new Gluten Free Crust is appropriate for those with mild gluten sensitivity, Domino's and the NFCA do not recommend it for those with celiac disease. Domino's and the NFCA found that while the crust is certified as gluten free, current store operations at Domino's cannot guarantee that each handcrafted pizza will be completely free from gluten.
In short, because the gluten-free crust is made in a facility where there is gluten present (like in the ovens), the company doesn't recommend the crust for those with severe cases of celiac disease. For more FAQs, see Domino's Facebook page.
There are an estimated 18 million Americans who are gluten sensitive. If a good chunk of them love delivery pizza, Domino's might have just tapped into a whole new market.
Domino's made a video touting the new crust, and in it also discusses the risks of eating the new pizza for those with actual celiac disease.
WATCH:
Clarification: Domino's is the not the first national chain to offer gluten-free crust, but it is the first large-scale pizza delivery operation to do so. International pizza delivery micro-chain Naked Pizza, based out of Louisiana, has offered gluten-free pizza for a number of years.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/07/dominos-gluten-free-pizza-crust_n_1496408.html
