Expo East, 2012, Recap

Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore, MD is the largest east coast conference for the natural, organic and healthy living industry. For the last two years, I’ve been honored to be a part of expert panels relating to food allergies - here’s this year’s session - as well as hold book signings for Allergic Girl: Adventures in Living Well with Food Allergies.

Pretty cool to see my name up in "lights" at Natural Products Expo East

 
As I walked the floor at Natural Products Expo East of over 5000 booths here is some of what I saw.

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Some of the bigger news for the allergen-friendly category is that Smart Balance (makers buttery spreads) purchased Glutino’s and Udi’s Gluten-Free and that purchase was reflected in this year’s booths, repacking, re-branding and new products.

Udi's new French bread

Glutino's new packaging

Other beloved gluten-free, allergen-friendly brands have gotten new looks like, Chebe, GF flours and mixes made from tapioca.

Same Chebe inside, now in boxes instead of pouches

Enjoy Life Foods was there with top secret new products that I can't even whisper to you about but many of you will be super excited. Meanwhile, they are updating their packaging as well and discontinuing a beloved cereal (Perky's crunchy rice) and bringing on a new one: chia and flax cereal.

Chobani is roaring in Q4 and 2013's Q1 with a spate of new products. First on deck are their banana yogurt and pear yogurt flavors.

Cannot wait to try these Chobanis!

And then that follows with Chobani's new "flip flavors" including fig and orange! There is a chocolate flavor and I've already asked about the chocolate purveyor's allergen status updates when I have them. 

These are Chobani tester cups and mock-ups

Food Should Taste Good has come out with a few new flavors - this time a sweet potato chip - oh my!

Cannot wait to try these FSTG chips

 

Did you know Canyon Bakehouse, makers of GF breads is also nut-free? Me neither.

A new GF bread to try: Canyon Bakehouse

Oats. That was one trend I was noticing most in the spate of new gluten-free and allergen-friendly products.  Here is a dairy-free ice cream made from oats by Wayfare.

Wayfare has a whole line of dairy-free goods

And last but not least, a new line of pre-made organic rice, oats and quinoa, great for traveling, by Minsley.

That Minsley rice bowl six-pack is available at Costco

Thank you Natural Products Expo East for another great show!