Girl Scout Cookies are back and with it comes the green jacket girls selling colorful boxes of delicious snacks. It’s been a year since I supported our local tween entrepreneurs and stocked up on minty, chocolatey goodness.
But this year when the underage cookie dealers came knocking, I remained committed to my New Year’s resolutions. No sweets, no sugar and no cookies.
And no answering the door when they rang the bell.
To be honest, our great annual cookie hunt centers mainly on restocking Thin Mints, which the hubs enjoys. I’m not big into cookies and Matthew tends to enjoy homemade cookies or Oreos.
Are Girl Scout Cookies Safe for Nut Allergies?
A reader asked me this week if Girl Scout Cookies were safe for people with peanut and nut allergies, and I had to do a little digging to really find out.
And I was surprised to learn that many Girl Scout Cookies now carry “May Contain” warning labels for peanuts and nuts.
Almost all of the Girl Scout cookies made by ABC Bakers – one of two bakeries licensed to make the popular treats – include updated food allergen warnings.
The other bakery approved to manufacture the cookies is Little Brownie Bakers.
ABC Bakers includes the “may contain” warnings for peanuts, tree nuts and coconut. Their warnings also include egg, milk, soy and wheat on almost all of the cookies they make and distribute.
The new warning statement is a result of a labeling update required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Previously, some cookies had a “warning” label and others didn’t.
ABC Bakers confirmed that nothing changed in the cookie making process – the potential cross-contamination risk is not greater or less than in previous years.
The updated labeling, announced in November 2019, is intended to ensure transparency that allergens – including peanuts – may be present during the baking process.
⚠️ The following is based on my online research – I am not a medical professional. Please read all labels on all product packaging before consuming any food.
Food Allergy-Friendly Cookie Guide
All but ONE cookie on the ABC Bakers website includes “may contain” peanut warnings. The only cookie that appears safe and free of any peanut and nut allergens is the Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie.
On the Little Brownie Baker website, there are three cookies that do not have peanut or nut listed on the ingredients or in a warning statement:
So here’s my take on Girl Scout Cookies: I’ll always support a little girl power and make sure the hubs is stocked up on his cookie stash.
I love that there is a program that fosters unity, inclusion and healthy competition in an entrepreneurial environment for girls. But I wish companies like ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers did more to safeguard their manufacturing facilities.
By doing that, we could ensure there is absolutely no cross-contamination, and subsequently, no need for vague “may contain” statements on the few cookies that should be otherwise safe to consume.
I’d love to hear what your thoughts are about Girl Scout Cookies. Comment below or on myFacebookpage. How does your family handle “may contain” warning statements?
