Celebrate Celiac Awareness Month with Quaker® Crispy Minis® Rice Chips and the Gluten-Free Certification Program

The GFCP and CCA are proud to announce that Quaker Crispy Minis Rice Chips are now endorsed by the CCA as gluten-free

Toronto, ON (PRWEB) May 21, 2015

In support of Celiac Awareness Month, the Gluten-Free Certification Program (GFCP), endorsed by the Canadian Celiac Association (CCA) and the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, is pleased to announce that Quaker Crispy Minis rice chips have met all necessary assurances required to use the GFCP trademark on their product line. Quaker Crispy Minis rice chips have the same great taste Canadians know and love, but are now recognized by the Gluten-Free Certification Program.

"The demand for safe and reliable gluten-free snacks is growing," says Paul Valder, President of the Allergen Control Group, owners of the GFCP. "By displaying the GFCP endorsed trademark, Crispy Minis rice chips provides consumers with a trusted and easily identifiable source of safe, gluten-free products."

Crispy Minis rice chips are a category leader in puffed cakes and these 10 Gluten-Free flavours are available at grocery retailers across Canada:
–    Quaker Crispy Minis Cheddar rice chips
–    Quaker Crispy Minis BBQ rice chips
–    Quaker Crispy Minis Ketchup rice chips
–    Quaker Crispy Minis Butter Popcorn rice chips
–    Quaker Crispy Minis Dill Pickle rice chips
–    Quaker Crispy Minis Salt & Vinegar rice chips
–    Quaker Crispy Minis Sea Salt & Lime rice chips
–    Quaker Crispy Minis Sweet Chili rice chips
–    Quaker Crispy Minis Caramel Kettle Corn rice chips
–    Quaker Crispy Minis Sour Cream & Onion rice chips

"We're happy Crispy Minis rice chips have been endorsed by the CCA as gluten-free," says Andrew Sutherland, Senior Director, Quaker, PepsiCo Foods Canada. "With almost 30 per cent of Canadians making a special effort to purchase gluten-free food*, we're glad to offer consumers more gluten-free choices with Crispy Minis rice chips."

The Gluten-Free Certification Program is a voluntary program designed for manufacturers and brand owners committed to producing safe and reliable gluten-free products. The program combines stringent, risk-based gluten-free requirements with globally recognized food safety management systems, which exceed government requirements in both Canada and the United States. It is verified by an annual robust, third-party facility audit process which ensures continued compliance. Consumers can now shop with confidence across North America and know that the products they are purchasing meet the industry's strictest gluten-free requirements when they see the GFCP trademark.

"The Canadian Celiac Association believes that all Canadians have the right to safe food, so we worked with the Gluten-Free Certification Program to meet these needs," states Sue Newell, Operations Manager of the Canadian Celiac Association. "We advocate on behalf of the approximately two million Canadians suffering from Celiac disease and gluten sensitivities who are frustrated by the uncertainty of identifying gluten-free products that are essential to their well-being. With that in mind, we are pleased to welcome Quaker Crispy Minis rice chips into the program and are looking forward to sampling Crispy Minis rice chips at our upcoming Gluten-Free Information Forum & Food Exhibition on June 6th in Manitoba."

About The Quaker® Oats Company
The Quaker Oats Company, headquartered in Chicago, is a unit of PepsiCo, Inc., one of the world's largest consumer packaged goods companies. For more than 130 years, Quaker's brands have served as symbols of quality, great taste and nutrition. Holding leadership positions in their respective categories, Quaker® Oats, Quaker® Rice Cakes and Quaker Chewy® Granola Bars are consumer favorites. For more information, please visit QuakerOats.com, Facebook.com/Quaker or follow us on Twitter @Quaker.

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $66 billion in net revenue in 2014, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – our goal to deliver top-tier financial performance while creating sustainable growth and shareholder value. In practice, Performance with Purpose means providing a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; finding innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment and reduce our operating costs; providing a safe and inclusive workplace for our employees globally; and respecting, supporting and investing in the local communities where we operate. For more information, visit PepsiCo.com.

About the Allergen Control Group Inc. (ACG)
The Allergen Control Group Inc. is a privately held corporation which owns and operates the Gluten-Free Certification Program on a global basis and is endorsed exclusively by the CCA in Canada and the NFCA in the USA. http://www.glutenfreecert.com

About the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA)
The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) is a US-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that drives diagnoses of celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders and improves the quality of life for those on a lifelong gluten-free diet. For more information, visit http://www.CeliacCentral.org.

About the Canadian Celiac Association (CCA)
The Canadian Celiac Association is the national voice for people who are adversely affected by gluten, and is dedicated to improving diagnosis and quality of life. Based in Mississauga, Ontario with 28 Chapters across the country, its mission includes advocacy, education, research and community support. http://www.celiac.ca

*Source: Canadian Celiac Association, Gluten-Free Certification Program presentation, 2013; Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, "Gluten Free" Claims in the Marketplace

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2015/05/prweb12738083.htm