Salata Announces Gluten-Free Certification

Houston-based Salata, the "Next Generation Salad Bar" specializing in fresh, tossed-to-order salads and salad wraps, announced today that its 20 Texas locations are certified gluten-free by respected nutrition consulting firm MenuTrinfo.

Since the first Salata opened in 2005, the restaurant has offered more than 50 fresh ingredients, including house-made dressings and marinades all of which are now crafted with gluten-free ingredients. During the certification process, the company underwent intensive assessments of its procedures, redesigned its popular salad bar to avoid cross-contamination and conducted a two-month training process for its staff to ensure safe handling.

"Salata's wide range of options has always made ordering easy for guests who follow a gluten-free diet," said Salata founder Berge Simonian. "With our gluten-free certification we give our guests additional reassurance and a reminder of Salata's commitment to providing guests delicious and healthy choices."

Through the certification process, Salata also has clearly marked its gluten-free items, making ordering a snap. Some items on the menu which do contain gluten, such as wraps, croutons, pasta and sesame sticks, have been placed conscientiously at the end of the bar to eliminate opportunities for cross-contamination.

"Many restaurants offer a limited gluten-free menu that guests must request," said Simonian. "Our salad bar is filled with easily identifiable options, and our staff is well-versed in gluten-free procedure. We know our loyal customers will appreciate the new convenience and we hope to welcome many new guests looking for gluten-free options."

Salata keeps guests' health in mind when selecting all of its ingredients. The restaurant's dressings and marinades are house-made without added preservatives. Salata's chicken, available with four different marinade choices, is hormone- and antibiotic-free, and its gluten-free Tortilla, Broccoli and Tomato Basil soups are made exclusively for the restaurant with the highest quality ingredients.