The global food allergy and intolerance products market is projected to surpass $26 billion by the year 2017.

The market that witnessed exploding growth in recent years is expected to continue the same momentum driven by increased diagnosis of digestive health conditions, growing vogue for wheat-free and gluten-free diets, improved labeling regulations, and a load of tastier and sumptuous innovations in the category, reported companiesandmarkets.com/.

The escalating consumer base is encouraging manufacturers to invest further in 'free-from' foods such as those containing less or no gluten, wheat, lactose, cow's milk, nuts, egg, soya, and ominous additives.

Earlier only few specialty companies offered gluten-free products, but in recent years the market witnessed not only a growing number of specialty food manufacturers but also the mainstream bigwigs including Anheuser-Busch and General Mills entering the fray.

The industry is also inundated with a rising number of private label gluten-free products joining the bandwagon. Besides easy availability of allergy free foods at supermarkets and restaurants, greater advertising spend are promoting market expansion.