How Semper became synonymous with gluten-free products in the Nordic region.

Semper is a company with a rich history. They began in the area of infant nutrition after Swedish nutritionist Ninni Kronberg pioneered a new method of drying milk that began the production of Sweden’s first milk powder plant. Semper expanded around the Nordic region and have been developing infant formula and baby food for over 70 years.

In the 1990s, Semper expanded in the health sector and acquired a gluten-free range. Since then, the company have gone from strength to strength in providing a range of gluten-free options – including breads, breakfast cereals, pasta, cookies and flour mixes. They take pride in being relied upon by their consumers – we can trust that their certified products are gluten-free. They are excited to announce that 46 of the products have been newly certified as FODMAP Friendly!

How many people in the Nordic region have IBS?

A 2012 meta-analysis¹ studied the global prevalence of IBS and associated the geographic region of Northern Europe (21 studies from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden) with a pooled prevalence of 12%. Northern Europe had the highest number of studies involved in the analysis out of any geographic region, but nonetheless it is still important to remember that this prevalence may not represent the demographic of the many countries studied. As we continue to discovery better ways to both diagnose and report IBS prevalence, we will be able to become more confident in our findings.

Introducing the 46 FODMAP Friendly certified products

Semper have had 46 of their products certified as FODMAP Friendly. We’ve split the products introductions into categories and included a full list at the end of this post.

Breads & pastas
Semper have a range of FODMAP Friendly breads available – including Frobrod, a sliced multi-seed bread and Formbrod, a sliced white bread variety. Both products are lactose free. A mountain round style bread is also included in the line – perfect for sandwiches and picnics. Also in the range we have a FODMAP Friendly Tagliatelle, Sedani Eco brown rice pasta and Linguine Eco.

Flour mixes
Semper has a range of FODMAP Friendly flour mixes that are perfect substitutes in your baking ventures. Fin Mix is a light flour mix that can be used instead of regular wheat flour, while Mix Med Fiber can be used in the same way as rye or whole grain flour. Bovete & Teff Miöl is a lactose-free buckwheat and teff flour that was designed to replace ordinary flour – perfect for pancakes and pies. Also included in this range is a premium flour mix, coarse mix and oat & quinoa bread mix that is perfect for baking crispbreads. Pofiber is a dietary fibre that is perfect for baking and cooking. It contains a combination of insoluble and soluble fibre and can be used as a substitute for breadcrumbs. It can also be directly added to water and drunk for a fibre boost.

Biscuits & Cakes
When following a low FODMAP diet, we assume that the occasional biscuit or cake is off limits. Although for conventional products this is often the case, Semper has changed the game and had a number of delicious sweet baked goods certified as FODMAP Friendly. These include the classic Kex Marie tea biscuit, Piruett Chokladsmak ­– chocolate flavoured cream biscuits and the favourite Pepparkakor ginger-snap biscuits. You are also now able to get your Havrekakkor oatmeal cookie fix. The lemon-flavoured mini muffins have also been certified too.

Cereals
Semper have made low FODMAP breakfast options a great deal easier and tastier. The Kick! range consists of crunchy oat cereals with both a fruit free and raspberry option. Special Flakes are a crispy rice flake style cereal, while the range also boasts Eko Havregryn and Havregryn – two certified gluten-free oat cereals.

Savoury crackers & crispbreads
Scandinavia are known for their delectable crispbreads, so it is only fitting that Semper have a range of savoury crackers and crispbreads that are both delicious and FODMAP Friendly. Grovknacke is a traditional Swedish crispbread, while Rosmarinknacke Med Salt is a rosemary and salt crispbread. Spisbrod is baked with sourdough, teff and gluten-free oatmeal. These are just a few examples – you can enjoy oat, flaxseed or even buckwheat and quinoa flavoured crispbreads also.  If you’re looking for crackers, you’re spoilt for choice with chia, poppy seeds or cheese flavours.

Where can you purchase Semper products?

Semper products are available from a range of stockists in Northern Europe as well as Switzerland, Germany, United Kingdom and Ireland. For details about your specific country, check out this page on their website which will take you to the relevant region.

Where can you find out more?

Check out the Semper Gluten Free website, and their Instagram, @semperglutenfritt.

Full FODMAP Friendly Certified Product List:

BREADS & PASTAS
Frobrod: lactose free sliced bread with seeds
Formbrod: lactose free sliced white bread
Lantbrod: farmhouse-style bread
Tagliatelle Med Agg: a gluten-free tagliatelle pasta with egg
Sedani Eco: a delicious brown rice pasta
Linguine Eco: linguine style pasta

FLOUR MIXES
Fin Mix: a light flour mix that can be used instead of regular wheat flour
Mix Med Fiber: a flour mix that can be used in the same way as rye or wholegrain flour
Bovete & Teff Mjöl: buckwheat and teff flour that cn be used to replace ordinary wheat flour
Grov Mix: a lactose free, coarse mix that is ideal for gluten-free baking and crispy pizza bases
Mix: a premium white flour mix with milk powder and gluten free wheat starch
Oat & Quinoa Bread Mix: perfect oat flavour for bread, crispbread and focaccia baking
Pofiber: a dietary fibre that is perfect for baking and cooking

BISCUITS & CAKES
Kex Marie: tea biscuits
Piruett Chokladsmak: a lactose-free chocolate flavoured cream biscuit
Wafer Bits Lemon: cream filled wafers with a citrus lemon flavour
Pepparkakor: lactose-free ginger snap biscuits
Chokladkakor: chocolate chip cookies
Salted Caramel Chocolate Cookies: a delicious sweet-and-salty treat
Triple Chocolate Cookies: café style triple chocolate cookies with 30% dark and white chocolate chunks
Havredigestive: lactose-free oatmeal digestive biscuits
Kolakakor: vanilla biscuits
Havrekakkor: oatmeal cookies
Digestivekex: digestive biscuits
Mini Muffins with Lemon Flavour: delicious mini-morsels of lemon goodness

CEREALS
Kick! Natural: a lactose and fruit free crunchy oat cereal
Kick! Raspberry: raspberry flavoured crunchy oat cereal
Special Flakes: lactose-free crispy rice flakes
Havrekuddar: oat pillow cereal – crispy pillows made from pure oats and corn
Eko Havregryn: gluten-free oats
Crispy Rice: puffed rice cereal
Havregryn: pure oat cereal

SAVOURY CRACKERS & CRISPBREADS
Grovknacke: lactose-free traditional Swedish crispbread
Rosmarinknacke Med Salt: rosemary and salt crispbread
Spisbrod: crispbread baked with sourdough, teff and gluten-free oatmeal
Lantknacke: thin, fiber rich, crispy crispbread
Havreknäcke: oat crispbread with pure oats, anise, fennel and cumin
Spisknäcke Med Surdeg: sourdough, teff and GF oatmeal crispbread
Superknäcke Chia: crisp breads packed with chia teff and buckwheat
Linfröknäcke från Dalarna: flaxseed crisp bread topped with flax seeds
Quinoaknäcke: quinoa and buckwheat crisp bread
Poppy Seed Crackers: lactose-free, crispy poppy seed crackers
Cheese Flavoured Crackers: perfect for a lactose-free cheesy treat
Chia Crackers: lactose-free, crispy crackers
Musliknäcke: coconut, cinnamon, oats and cranberry crispbread

 

1. 1. Lovell RM, Ford AC. Global Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Meta-analysis. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 10(7): 712-21