Meyers, Courtney2018-02-162018-02-162017-122017-11-21December 2http://hdl.handle.net/2346/73527American consumers believe the gluten-free diet (GFD) is healthy, and 25% prefer gluten-free foods. Media coverage may influence attitudes and behaviors about the GFD. A content analysis evaluated frames and article types used to communicate the GFD in 262 articles published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and USA Today from January 2003 through August 2017. Nine frames were identified that described the GFD: Advice, medical, entrepreneurial, social controversy, pop culture, diet fad, institutional policies, market and retail sales, and research. The advice frame was used most in 65 (24.8%) articles, and medical in 43 (16.4%). Feature and opinion type each accounted for 94 (72%) articles. The variety of frames shows the GFD is communicated in a complex manner, but the frequency of advice and medical frames may influence consumer perceptions of the GFD’s popularity and healthiness. The use of feature and opinion articles provide biases that may also influence consumer beliefs. Additional research could determine what events may have influenced the prevalence of each frame, as well as potential agenda-setting effects from these frames. A recommendation for practice is for scientists and agricultural communicators should present scientific findings with a human-interest component to appeal to readers.application/pdfGluten-free dietFramingMedia coverageContent analysisThesis2018-02-16