Better Gluten-free Pasta

In response to consumer demand for gluten-free products that taste good, too, St. Louis, Mo.-based American Italian Pasta Co. has developed a product that it says is the first in the industry to match the color, texture and flavor of traditional pasta with a unique yellow corn-white rice blend. Available in spaghetti, penne and fusilli shapes, the new pasta line, an extension of the Heartland brand, which also includes whole wheat and traditional varieties, is also egg- and dairy-free. A 12-ounce package retails for a suggested $1.99 to $2.69, which the company points out is a value for shoppers, since gluten-free foods typically cost about 79 percent more than their mainstream counterparts. And, since the gluten-free pasta segment has seen 35 percent sales growth over the past year, according to Nielsen figures, catering to purchasers of such items makes more sense than ever. Additional information is available by visitingwww.aipc.com.