Girl Scout Cookies - 2011

Abigail "bridged" from a Daisy to a Brownie Troop this year.  When the cookie sales started in January, we didn't have a mother that wanted to be "Cookie Mom."  I thought we were going to get away with not having to sell cookies.  It's not that I don't love a good Thin Mint or Samoa, but the cookies don't come close to meeting my healthy food standard nor are they particularly food allergy friendly.  Well, one of the girls in the Troop really wanted to have the cookie selling experience so, here in February, her mom said she'd assume the role of coordinating the cookie sales.  Our Troop could use the money so with some enthusiasm, I'm off to go help Abigail sell some cookies.  It's stiff competition around here and we're late entering the game so we'll need some luck.

It appears that the Regional Council can decide which of the two licensed Girl Scout cookie manufacturers they'll use.  Our cookies come from Little Brownie Bakers (LBB) in Louisville, Kentucky.  It's a subsidiary of Keebler, owned by Kellogg's.  If you guys are frequent readers of my blog, you know that I've posted about the Kellogg's company and their use of genetically modified ingredients.  If not, here's a link to that post.  ABC Bakers is the other licensed Girl Scout cookie manufacturer, and they're located in Richmond, Virginia, ironically, closer to us than Louisville, Kentucky.

Each bakery can offer up to 28 different varieties and are responsible for naming them.  According to Wikipedia, "the national Girl Scout organization reviews and approves all varieties proposed by the baking companies, but requires only three types: Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Sandwiches (ABC)/Do-Si-Dos (LBB) and Shortbreads (ABC)/Trefoils (LBB). The other kinds can be changed every year, though several popular favorites, such as Caramel DeLites (ABC)/Samoas (LBB) and Peanut Butter Patties (ABC)/Tagalongs (LBB), are consistently available."

This year there are four peanut/tree nut safe cookies offered by Little Brownie Bakers.  They are the Trefoils, Samoas, Thank U Very Munch and Thin Mints.  According to their website, they label using a "May Contain" statement.. "For peanuts and tree nuts, we have chosen to include cautionary labeling in the form of a "may contain" statement. This indicates that the product shares processing equipment with another product that contains peanuts or tree nuts."  Here's a link to their Nutrition Guide.

Here is the link to the ABC Bakers' Nutrition Guide.  They also label with a "May Contains" statement, "in addition, we call out all allergens on our packaging and order cards and provide specific warning if a product is made on a line that also produces product with a common allergen such as peanuts."  There are just three peanut/tree nut safe varieties for this year.  They are Thin Mints, Thanks-A-Lots and Lemonades.

So, once again, Abigail will be selling cookies that she can't eat, and I'll be buying cookies that I don't want to eat.  I am really late in posting this information.  Most of you have already probably been approached to purchase a box..or two.  I was really hoping that we were getting out of selling this year.  So close!