I was just recently made aware of this petition by a Twitter follower (@StacyIM) and I couldn’t agree more that it’s a worthy cause. Not only would I love to see the Girl Scouts sell a allergen-free cookie, I’d love to see them sell something a little healthier all the way around. While a cookie is a cookie, not all cookies are created equally and it is possible to make something healthy. Now before I go off into some off-topic rant, go and sign this petition on change.org — there will be lots of little girls that will be very happy for it (lots of little boys and parents as well).
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Overview
This petition was started on May 8, 2011 in honor of Celiac Awareness Month and Food Allergy Awareness Week. For those with a food allergy, many, if not all of the Girl Scout cookies are off limits. Consumers have a choice not to buy the cookies. However, members of the Girl Scouts are encouraged to sell the cookies to learn skills, obtain prizes and be part of an organization. Despite this, the organization isn’t doing enough to support and incorporate its members that have food allergies.
Nationwide, for 2009, the most recent year studied by the Center for Disease Control, the estimate for children with food allergies was 5%. For adults, the number is 4% in America according to the Food Allergen and Anaphylaxis Network. In 2010, the Journal of the American Medical Association estimated the number could be as high as 10%.
Based on these statistics, then approximately 132,000 members of the approximately 3,300,000 Girls Scouts are selling cookies that they may not be able to eat. Additionally, the Girls Scouts are leaving out up to 10% of the American marketplace who cannot buy their cookies.
The Girl Scouts license their cookies to two companies: ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers. Both companies have been contacted by myself and others inquiring about them producing an allergen free cookie and I have been advised that there isn’t enough of a market to support such a product. ABC Bakers even states on their website that there isn’t enough of a demand for a cookie that is free from either sugar or gluten. However, what these two bakers and the Girl Scouts have never tried is to market just one cookie that is free from the top eight food allergens.
The cookie manufacturers and Girl Scouts have indicated that when they see enough of a need, they will consider manufacturing such a cookie. If you or a member of your family have a food allergy and you have not been able to buy Girl Scout cookies because of this, please sign this petition letting the Girl Scouts know that they have lost out on your business but you would buy a box of cookies from them if they made a delicious cookie that is free from the top eight food allergens.
Although no support is too much, it is requested that only those that would buy a delicious, allergen free cookie sign this petition so that the Girl Scouts and its bakers know that there is a market for this and it would be profitable. Concern for those with allergies is not enough for a company to make a business decision. The Girl Scouts and its bakers need to see that this will be a profitable venture for them in order for us to encourage them to take on this endeavor and offer their first ever allergen free cookie.
22 comments
Joan Clawson says:
Aug 12, 2011
How about “Gluten Free Cookies” ??
Chris says:
Aug 12, 2011
@Joan, allergen-free cookies would include gluten-free cookies
Dusty Warren says:
Aug 12, 2011
I signed the petition!
April Graves says:
Aug 12, 2011
They would probably be loaded with preservatives. No thanks!
Teena Medick says:
Aug 12, 2011
My daughter had to sell for a year after being diagnosed!!! That was a tough year! We have over 58 kids on our block, 10 Girl Scouts, we are constantly aware of those delicious cookies….as a Mom that was the ONLY time I ever ate Gluten on purpose!!! 1 whole sleeve of thin mints and I paid the price….’
Chris says:
Aug 12, 2011
@April, you’re right, they probably would be — but for the people buying them, this wouldn’t be an issue. Better to have a gluten-free option available. I’m not one that purchases cookies — I just make them myself just the way I want.
JoDee Mitchell says:
Aug 12, 2011
People should make their own cookies. LOL. And I am GF. So I don’t feel sorry for myself, excuse me. Haha
Chris says:
Aug 12, 2011
@Teena, yikes!
Joan Clawson says:
Aug 12, 2011
Thanks for the information.. I signed the petition.
Teena Medick says:
Aug 12, 2011
Please make and ship me some Gluten Free Thin Mints…:) Don’t get me wrong….I can recreate just about anything gluten free, it was just a weak moment early on in the diagnosis! Myself and my kids are all Celiac and my son is the only one who craves Gluten! My daughter and I could deal without!
Anonymous says:
Aug 12, 2011
We find it apalling that so many of these fundraising food items for kids are so incredibly unhealthy.
A Cup of Green says:
Aug 12, 2011
Great idea – they should switch it up. I appreciate the tradition of the girls selling the cookies, but it would be great if they could ‘health it up’ also :)
Chris says:
Aug 12, 2011
@Martin’s, I agree with you 100% — it’s going to take a lot of work to change peoples perception of what a healthy diet looks like. There are a lot of people open to such ideas and a lot of people who could care less. Let’s all hope that we can reach the ones who are open to being reached.
Amy says:
Aug 12, 2011
With two Girl Scouts of my own (always Top Cookie Sellers), one of which is Gluten intolerant, I have to say that I think an “allergen free” cookie is asking a lot of the organization. Each council sells for only a few weeks a year. Typically the low fat/sugar free varieties have never even sold well. I also do not think that ONE “allergen free” cookie would accommodate ALL food allergies…so therefore, someone will always come up feeling slighted or left out? When will the complaints and demands stop? Let’s not even discuss the costs they would incur. Apologies to those whose health issues do not allow them to partake but seriously, my own Gluten-Free Girl Scout agrees:…Get over it! Girl Scouts and their cookies are a simple national tradition. Let’s keep it that way!
Stacy Oberman Malinow says:
Aug 12, 2011
OMG. thank you, thank you, thank you. With all of our voices as one, we can make this a reality so little girls can be in a group and not feel ostracized by their health issue.
Bev Wittkop says:
Aug 12, 2011
If you need cookies that badly, find a recipe that you like and make your own. Building a wheat-free facility would raise the price of a product that is already over-priced and not good for you. Since the cookies are sold as a fund-raiser, why not contribute directly to the organization?
Chris Armstrong says:
Aug 12, 2011
@Bev, it’s not about needing cookies “that badly”, it’s about letting kids be kids. With so many many gluten-free options available and as big as the gluten-free market has become, the Girl Scouts could easily contract something like this out without having to build their own facility. I’d be willing to bet it would be something they would profit from.
Bev Wittkop says:
Aug 12, 2011
Good points!
paule says:
Aug 12, 2011
I agree with Amy, the healthier versions of the GS cookies never sell well and it would be too costly for the GS to offer cookies that would cover the whole range of the major allergies. I just checked the website of a very large cookie manufacturer, Pepperidge Farm, and they do not seem to offer allergen free cookies even though they have a huge share of the cookie market, as opposed to the tiny sliver that the Girl Scouts represent. So i am wondering why the GS and only the GS are the target of your petition.
Most people buy GS cookies because of their great taste and do not seem to want a low cal or no sugar version. I would like to see the elimination of palm oil or hydrogenated fats in all cookies though.
Chris Armstrong says:
Aug 12, 2011
@Amy, I don’t think anybody is complaining. The title of the petition on Change.org is, “Encourage the Girl Scouts to sell an allergen free cookie” — the key word being “encourage”. It’s also about supply and demand;
“Based on these statistics, then approximately 132,000 members of the approximately 3,300,000 Girls Scouts are selling cookies that they may not be able to eat. Additionally, the Girls Scouts are leaving out up to 10% of the American marketplace who cannot buy their cookies.”
132,000 members plus their family members that would buy such a cookie would be a great incentive. Again, no one here is complaining, just looking for ways — like everyone else — to be involved with this “simple national tradition” and help an organization like the Girl Scouts succeed even more with their fundraisers.
marla says:
Aug 12, 2011
Great info Chris. Thanks for sharing this with us, I do believe that the GS need a healthy, GF option. I cringe at what they sell now. Just signed the petition & shared on FB.
Liz Wood says:
Sep 9, 2011
Absolutely should offer more…so many people with allergies and other products available they should be able to offer choices for kids with various allergies…