Pamela’s Products Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chunk Cookies are tasty. But the biggest disappointment for me was the value.

The box is small, weighing just 5.29 oz (150g) but in my haste to feed my chocolate craving, I didn’t really notice. Inside the box you’ll find a total of nine cookies. Yep, you read right: nine. The cookies are just a little over 2 inches across, so these aren’t monster cookies by any stretch.

A closeup of the cookie

The texture of the cookie is similar to that of a shortbread. They’re a little “sandy” and dry, not chewy, although the large chocolate chunks do add some chewiness every so often.

At over $3.00 USD a box at Wal-Mart, these aren’t exactly a great buy, though they’re tasty enough. Worth a try once I suppose.

Our Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

To provide consistency among food products labeled gluten-free, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is in the process of developing rules that would apply to all gluten-free products in the market. Creating standard rules for all food companies to follow will assist consumers looking for gluten-free foods. To learn more about the new FDA proposed rule and for updates on its status, visit: www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/lab-cat.html#1gluten.

Read the full article: www.kraftrecipes.com/HEALTHY-LIVING-IDEAS/ARTICLES/FOOD-ALLERGIES/glutenfreefoods.aspx.

Glutino offers a wide array of products, ranging from baking mixes to snacks. For example, bread options include cinnamon, cheese, corn and bagels, just to name a few; snacks include pretzels, cookies and breakfast bars. Please visit our website for a comprehensive list: http://www.glutino.com.

“We’re excited to give our customers what they’ve been asking for by expanding our range of gluten-free products and making them easier to find in our stores,” said Denise Webster, food scientist at Fresh & Easy.

Read the full article published January 28, 2010: www.csnews.com/csn/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004063434.

Discovering its surprising food value, they knew they were onto something. Here was a seed that could both feed the world and help the planet- a renewable resource, with natural nutrition. It was a chance to improve health and improve the planet at the same time.

Early on, it seemed like a lofty goal to bring hemp foods to the grocery aisle. But once they saw what great-tasting products could be created, they knew the goal was within reach. Today, their proprietary processes for producing hemp milk, frozen desserts and more has brought their products into many homes as a staple of everyday diets. Their long and deep history with hemp foods has also put them in the enviable position of being a small, independent company that leads the industry, with more expertise than any other hemp foods company.

Hemp’s nutritional makeup includes digestible protein, essential amino acids and valuable essential fatty acids (EFA’s) Omega-3 and Omega-6, known as “good fats”, and essential to everyone’s diet. But hemp’s benefits don’t stop there. It’s also an ideal renewable resource – a hardy crop that can be grown without pesticides or herbicides. Living Harvest maximizes the naturally nutritious properties of the hemp seed and has translated that into an entire line of gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, and nut-free goods.

Visit their website for more information: www.worldpantry.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/livingharvest/about.d2w/report.

General Mills ventured into the gluten-free market because several employees and their relatives had gluten intolerance. Dena Larson, marketing manager for the baking products division of General Mills, which owns Betty Crocker, said what struck the staff was that gluten-sensitive people were excluded from the “sweet moments of life — family moments sharing a cake, being able to reward your son with a cookie when he gets off the bus. Those are the things we take for granted, but it’s emotional to have those things taken away from you.”

Development of the products moved swiftly — “because we were very targeted” — and they were introduced in June of 2009. Increased awareness also spurred General Mills to create a website highlighting their gluten free products. www.LiveGlutenFreely.com lists more than 200 products under the brand names Yoplait, Progresso, Betty Crocker, Larabar, and Chex – and according to General Mills – more are in the pipeline.

Organic Gourmet’s products are all gluten free, MSG free and low carb, adding nutritional value and terrific flavor! Try their Vegetarian Bouillon Cubes with certified organic ingredients, Instant Sauce Mixes, Soup ‘ N Stock Concentrates, and more: www.organic-gourmet.com.

Give them a try and see if you concur with their motto: “Gluten Free Has Never Tasted So Good”!

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