Let Them Eat Chocolate! Multiple Organics Now Offers Chocolate Ingredients Made in Allergen-Free, Gluten-Free Facility; Available in Fair Trade

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today in the United States alone, more than 12 million people have food allergies, representing six to eight percent of children under the age of three and nearly four percent of adults. In addition, 1 in 133 people have Celiac Disease and cannot eat gluten and many more have gluten or other food sensitivities. Avoiding these allergens is already challenging, but what makes it even more so is the fact that most products on the market—including chocolate—are usually processed in facilities that also process allergenic foods, leading to contamination.

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To sweeten the options for those avoiding allergens, Multiple Organics, Inc. now offers USDA- and EU-certified organic chocolate ingredients that are made in a dedicated facility that does not process any major allergens including dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, soy, wheat or other known sources of gluten such as barley, rye, oats and triticale. Produced by a family-owned cacao processer in the rainforests of South America, these single origin, premium organic chocolate ingredients range from chocolate chips and wafers to couvertures and cocoa powder (available in alkalized and non-alkalized "natural"). These products are also free of soy-lecithin, a common emulsifier used in the majority of chocolate products.

Socially Responsible Allergen-Free Indulgence. All of these chocolate ingredients are available as certified fair trade—another growing area of demand. Studies show that 78 percent of consumers who are aware of the fair trade claim have purchased fair trade certified products in the last year. Additionally, to support farming communities, Multiple Organics recently launched a program to provide solar powered lighting to many of its cacao farmers who live in remote areas of the Andes mountains with no access to electricity. Details on this project, set to be completed by the end of 2011, will be released soon.

Going the Extra Step—Laboratory Testing. While others may claim that they have a "dedicated allergen-free facility," this is not always enough to ensure that the end product is truly free from contamination. Thus, in addition to sourcing from a dedicated facility, Multiple Organics will also test each lot in a third-party laboratory for specific allergens or maximum gluten levels based on the requests of each client. In accordance with the Multiple Organics' Safety and Testing (MOST) program, these chocolate ingredients are also tested for microbiological pathogens, heavy metals and radiation and production is audited by a global food safety expert.

"Testing each lot along with all the other steps involved in MOST means that we are doing everything we can to ensure that the food we offer is as safe as possible," says Dave Lanstein, founder and CEO. "Food should be fun and enjoyable, but providing food is a great responsibility, too—one we don't take lightly."

High resolution photos are available here.

About Multiple Organics, Inc.: Multiple Organics is a wholesale supplier of over 100 varieties of high-quality, certified organic ingredients—including everything from the superseed chia to perfectly-ripened organic dried mango filets and allergen-free chocolate products, as well as a long list of other cocoa products, dried fruits, edible seeds, beans, lentils, nuts, peas, specialty grains and sugar.

With an emphasis on strong supply chain management, food safety via its stringent, multi-level MOST (Multiple Organics Safety & Testing) program, and a devoted team of passionate professionals, Multiple Organics has been recognized as one of the fastest growing private companies in America by sources like Inc. magazine and the San Francisco Business Times.

Over the past ten years, Multiple Organics has cultivated strong, long-lasting relationships with some of the most dedicated organic farmers, processors and manufacturers around the world. By working together with the entire chain from farm to consumer, Multiple Organics believes that advances in sustainability and food safety can, and must, be accomplished. For more information about Multiple Organics and products offered, visit www.multipleorganics.com.

Contact:
Jacqueline Marinho
PR Representative
Multiple Organics, Inc.
415-482-9800
[email protected]

SOURCE Multiple Organics, Inc.