In 2004, the FDA created the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Actin an effort to assure consumers that what they were eating and drinking did not contain ingredients to which they were allergic. Initially, the FDA drilled down to a short list of items that were non-controversial across the board. Consumers allergic to peanuts, for example, in severe cases, can die from even microscopic amounts of residue. These folks needed utmost confidence that their jar of cashews was not cross contaminated by the simultaneous peanut production taking place on the assembly line just a few feet away or even on the same machinery the next day. Since 2004, the FDA's list has grown substantially; consumers are increasingly discerning about what they don't want in their foods because of health and sustainability reasons; and manufacturers have capitalized by marketing what is difficult and expensive to achieve logistically: that is, tool their production processes to avoid cross contamination in order to label their products "free from" whatever ingredient is being claimed. Of course, as the Free From Movementbecomes increasingly popular throughout the mainstream, demand for food and drinks free from particular items grows based on an array of consumer concerns, some backed by hard medical evidence, some still being researched and others that are still aways away from medical consensus. Avoiding gluten, for example, has caught on like wildfire in mainstream America, and for good reason. Celiac Disease, a very distressing autoimmune condition irritated by consumption of the gluten protein, affects an estimated 1 in 100 people worldwide. In addition to Celiac, the evils of gluten have been attributed to dozens of other adverse health effects that consumers have embraced. The point is consumers want assurances, manufacturers of healthful foods and drinks want to give it to them, and the Free From Movement will only continue to make its way into the lifestyle of anyone who has ever thought twice about what he or she eats or drinks. That's why at Sweet Additions, we not only provide natural and organic sweeteners, starch derivatives, syrup solidsand non-animal proteinsfor the food and beverage industry, but why many of our formulations are non-GMO and free of soy or dairy and hypoallergenic, etc. At Sweet Additions, we take extraordinary measures to vet our supply chains and tool our labs and production facility for utmost care in avoiding cross contamination. Our RicePro™plant-based brown rice protein concentrate, for example, is 100% vegetarian, allergen-friendly and contains no soy or dairy proteins---period! Our rice- and tapioca-based hypoallergenic, non-GMO, gluten-free and syrup solids are just that: allergen-friendly, gluten-free and non-GMO. It's what we do, and we do it well! At Sweet Additions, we produce clean label ingredients, promote business transparencyand have an eye always on the health and sustainability of our planet. Our many innovative starch derivatives, sweeteners and product solutions for food and beverage manufacturers seeking natural and organic alternatives without compromising functionality and quality include: evaporated cane juice, glucose syrup, maltodextrin, natural sweeteners, non-GMO sweeteners, organic cane juice, rice syrup, sugar cane, tapioca syrup, and much more. We can customize our ingredients to meet specific requirements, and our expert technical staff is committed to assisting your innovation team with everything from new product development and application support to solving formulation challenges. Sweet Additions is SQF Level 3 Certified, Organic, Kosher and Gluten Free Certified, and Non GMO Project Certified.