Good Food Partners (GFP) has launched a range of low gluten oat porridges, targeting the one in four Australians avoiding gluten in their diet.
The Freedom Oats range is the brand’s first foray into low gluten products, presenting a mainstream, first-to-market option for low gluten oat porridges in Australia.
The two varieties, Original and Honey Porridge are low in gluten and naturally sweet with less than five grams of sugar per serve, they are dairy free and have health star ratings of five and four and a half respectively. Additionally, they are packaged in fully kerbside recyclable portion-controlled sachets, and packaged at the GFP site in Scoresby, Victoria.
GFP general manager Innovation & Growth Honi Cervi said the new varieties added healthier porridge alternatives to the mainstream cereal aisle.
“There was a real gap in the market when it came to low gluten, mainstream oat options, and at the same time we identified a growing demand from consumers with varied levels of intolerance or those avoiding gluten for lifestyle reasons,” Cervi said.
For GFP parent company Arnott’s Group nutritionist Alison Baldwin, the range offers strong health credentials.
“The range has zero nasties and still tastes great. The nourishing ingredients are a source of fibre, they have less than five grams of sugar per serve and no artificial colours or flavours,” Baldwin said.
The new range is labelled ‘low gluten’ to comply with Australian regulations. Across the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States, similar products containing less than 20 parts per millions of gluten, are considered ‘gluten free’.
The Freedom Foods facility maintains a strict supply chain to ensure minimal contamination of other gluten-containing cereals and grains. It is meticulously maintained to remove any other cereal plants while machines and equipment are checked and tested throughout the process to ensure they are free from any other traces of gluten containing cereals.
The supply chain also has separate transportation and drivers as well as a dedicated mill for low gluten oats. The oats themselves are tested throughout the stages of production to ensure they maintain low gluten status.
Whilst the range is not suitable for those who are coeliac, it is well-suited for consumers with other varied levels of gluten intolerance or those avoiding gluten for lifestyle reasons.
Freedom Oats are available in Coles and independent supermarkets.
