Eurostar Commodities has launched its first gluten-free flour.

The company said the flour had been developed for versatility in producing a variety of products, including bakery, cakes, desserts and pizza bases, as well as speciality breads such as focaccia and ciabatta.

It added that the flour was gluten-free, high in fibre and vegan.

The launch follows a report by Mintel stating 15% of UK households are now avoiding gluten, and that demand has widened beyond medical need, as food intolerances have become more widely accepted and more people opt for free-from products as a lifestyle choice.

“We recognise the increasing consumer demand for gluten-free products. However, within the category there is also demand for a versatile all-rounder to give businesses, restaurants, cafés and foodservice providers a top-quality product that is versatile enough for multiple uses,” said Philip Bull, managing director at Eurostar Commodities.

“We wanted to create a product that has excellent extensibility, that is consistently reliable and, ultimately, tastes incredible – certainly as good as, if not better than, similar products which contain gluten.”