WHAT'S THE WORD FOR 2008?

Days after I made my case elsewhere for glutened (and gluten-free) as Word of the Year 2007 (December 27, 2007), I note that the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has identified gluten-free as a food buzz word for 2008. Other foreseen buzz words: sustainable, healthful, seasonal, local, organic, antioxidant, artisanal, kids, yumberry, probiotics, carbon footprint, locavore, cage-free, pasture-raised, micro-greens, and all things Latino.

This was in an article by Marlene Parrish about trends for next year. The article quotes Giant Eagle supermarkets spokesperson Dick Roberts as saying, "...we see a big trend toward foods that provide solutions for consumers with allergies. Gluten-free food is a front runner as far as consumer demand and availability of product."

This is in line with food industry buzz covered here in August.

BREAKING: PUTIN BEATS GLUTEN!

It's official: Time's 2007 Person of the Year is Vladimir Putin—not GFNYC favorite Gluten.

Yet both make people worry that something in the food might be making them sick—as these cartoons show.

So now it's time to see if glutened will qualify for Word of the Year!