As Passover begins on Monday at sundown, a Jewish food company told FOX Business that a new demographic of consumers has embraced its products: people with Celiac disease and other gluten intolerance issues. "Gluten-free was not created in Whole Foods in the 1990s," said Charles Herzog, president of Kayco, the parent company of Manischewitz. "It was created at Mount Sinai thousands of years ago.
During Passover, observant Jews follow strict dietary restrictions — even stricter than kosher diets for the rest of the year. A person who keeps kosher does not eat shellfish or pork, or mix milk and meat products. The eight-day holiday of Passover, however, has its own set of dietary rules. "We all remember the story in the Bible. The Jews left Egypt and they didn't have time for the dough to rise or leaven.
He added, "We created a brand called Absolutely Gluten Free, which really was seeded in Passover, but now offers everyday gluten-free items." Previously, said Herzog, potato starch was the "go-to" Passover flour alternative. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER "As the years progressed, people became smarter," he said. "They started to play with cassava flour, coconut flour, and tapioca starch.