CANTON, Mass. – Dunkin’ Donuts will become the first fast-food chain to offer gluten-free items, Bloomberg reports. Later this year at U.S. location, the breakfast-and-coffee chain will rollout a gluten-free a cinnamon sugar donut and blueberry muffin. 

“We recognize the importance of providing our guests with many options, including alternative choices for people with food and dietary restrictions,” said CEO Stan Frankenthaler. The pastries will be packaged alone to keep them free from any wheat flour contamination. 

The number of adults eschewing gluten is at an all-time high, and many restaurants are adding gluten-free options to cater to that growing population of consumers. For example, Domino’s Pizza has gluten-free crusts and Starbucks might offer gluten-free products soon.

“The number of people who think they benefit from going gluten-free is growing,” said Nancy Childs, a food marketing professor at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. “People feel that they are choosing a healthier alternative” with gluten-free foods. 

Dunkin’ Donuts first tested its gluten-free products earlier this year at some Massachusetts locations. The success of that pilot has the company expanding to stores in Hartford, Conn. The gluten-free items have the same or slightly more calories than its wheat counterparts. For example, the gluten-free donut clocks in at 320 calories, while a glazed donut has 260 calories. The wheat-free blueberry muffin has 400 compared with the standard version with 460 calories.

The July 2011 NACS Magazine looked at the growth of gluten-free offerings.