Gluten-free diners’ new mantra: trust, but verify

Nima, a new device that could be a life saver for those afflicted with Celiac. This new device allows the user to place a sample of food into the test machine and determine whether or not the product has gluten in it. Nina has already tested certain foods labeled gluten free to find that it actually does contain gluten. Now this could be a skewed test or it could be a sign that producers aren’t being completely honest. Nima could be a saving grace for those with sever Celiac, and is a new front on the allergen and scientific community.

Key Takeaways:

• Nima is the first to market, but other similar sensors are in development, like the Tellspec, which is still in beta test. Hand-held consumer devices capable of detecting other food allergens — peanut, dairy and tree nuts — could come next.
• Celiac disease affects one in 133 Americans. A much-larger number of people—somewhere between 0.6 to six percent of the U.S. population—claim they have “non-celiac gluten sensitivity,” or NCGS.
• Enter the Nima. It’s a tabletop testing device that can detect the presence of gluten down to the fewer than 20 parts per million standard set by the Food and Drug Administration. While accurate, this pocket-sized unit is neither fast or cheap.

“Nima is viewed as a godsend by some celiac suffers and those who identify as gluten-sensitive. But the practical aspects of its use in a restaurant setting could raise several issues for operators.”

http://www.restaurant-hospitality.com/trendinista/gluten-free-diners-new-mantra-trust-verify