Chicago (PRWEB) May 23, 2007 -- The ground-breaking three-dimensional research study - Understanding Gluten and Allergen-Free Experiences of Guests & Hospitality Worldwide - was just released at The National Restaurant Association's Restaurant and Hotel/Motel Show. Focused on eating out and travel experiences, this innovative study surveys guests managing food allergies, customers living with celiac / coeliac and gluten-free diets, as well as the food service and hospitality professionals who cater to these individuals.

Over 300 million individuals around the world follow special diets, with sometimes life-threatening concerns. True food allergies affect as much as 6-8% of children and 3-4% of adults globally. Recent estimates of those impacted by food intolerances and sensitivities indicate that hundreds of millions worldwide may even be affected. Celiac disease, spelled "coeliac" outside of North America, is a genetic auto-immune condition with a permanent intolerance to gluten, the protein found in wheat, rye and barley. It affects approximately 1% of the world's population.

The primary purpose of this benchmarking study, sponsored by AllergyFree Passport®, is for guests and hospitality professionals to begin to understand each others' experiences and improve the dialogue between both sides of the table. Therefore, in recognition of food allergy and celiac / coeliac awareness initiatives occurring around the world during the month of May, coupled with one of largest hospitality conference with over 70,000 attendees from 100-plus countries, the timing for the launch was ideal.

"Since safely eating out is cited as one of the top concerns for those managing special diets, this research will provide a 360 degree view of consumer and business experiences," states Kim Koeller, President of AllergyFree Passport®. "With guests, hospitality professionals and communities working together - food allergies, celiac / coeliac and special diets can become universally understood and accepted everywhere! It is our hope that this study will ultimately empower individuals with the knowledge to safely and confidently live a better quality of life. At the same time, businesses can leverage the empirical data to justify new programs and services addressing this underrepresented portion of the global population."

To be a part of the Understanding Gluten and Allergen-Free Experiences of Guests & Hospitality Worldwide study, individuals and businesses can share their experiences by visiting the following websites and participate in the respective surveys: http://www.glutenfreeexperiences.com for celiacs / coeliacs and the gluten/wheat intolerant; http://www.allergenfreeexperiences.com for those managing food allergies; and http://www.allergenfreeguests.com or http://www.glutenfreeguests.com for hospitality & food service professionals.

Responses for all surveys must be submitted by August 31, 2007 and all feedback is confidential. If requested, in the fall of 2007, survey respondents will receive an Executive Summary of key findings.

AllergyFree Passport® and its affiliate GlutenFree Passport®, are health education companies dedicated to enriching gluten-free and allergen-free lifestyles worldwide. As creators of the award-winning, internationally acclaimed book series, Let's Eat Out! Your Passport to Living Gluten and Allergy Free, the firms deliver innovative client solutions on a worldwide basis for the culinary, hospitality, travel, healthcare and product sectors. For more information, please visit http://www.allergyfreepassport.com or http://www.glutenfreepassport.com.

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