Girl Scout Cookies…
For decades, the Girl Scouts of America has maintained a tradition of selling cookies as their annual fundraising drive. For a few months during the year, Girl Scouts across the country can be found manning tables in front of churches, supermarkets and town halls, surrounded by boxes of wonderful cookies.
Thin Mints, Samoas and Tagalongs. Do-di-dos, Lemonades and…Thin Mints…
So delicious. *Happy face*
So full of gluten. *Sad face*
Well, the Girl Scouts have turned that frown upside down by introducing their first gluten-free Girl Scout Cookie. And it’s chocolate chip!
“Millions of Americans have problems eating food with gluten – so we’ve created a delicious cookie just for them!” the Girl Scout website states.
The Girl Scouts are partnered with ABC Bakers, the company that makes their cookies, to produce the gluten-free cookie.
At ABC Bakers, we believe that everyone should be able to support the Girl Scout Cookie Program. So we’ve developed a delicious new bite size Girl Scout cookie that’s 100% gluten free – and we’re welcoming a whole group of people to the cookie sale. ABC Bakers will be working with a select group of Girl Scout councils to pilot the new cookie as part of the 2013-14 Cookie Sale. The new cookie has no artificial colors, no artificial flavors, no high-fructose corn syrup, no palm oil, and no hydrogenated oils. And it’s made with real chocolate chips and real butter.

The cookies are packaged in a resealable pouch!
Gluten Free Certification
The new gluten-free Girl Scout cookies are recognized by the Celiac Sprue Association (CSA) and certified by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO). For more information on ingredients click here.
The Celiac Sprue Association® (www.csaceliacs.info) is a major non-profit celiac support group in the United States with chapters and members across the country. The CSA Recognition Seal on our package means that we have agreed to adhere to CSA’s standards in representing this product to be free of wheat, barley, rye, oats, their crosses and derivatives in product, processing and packaging, and to have our product tested to ensure it is truly gluten-free. CSA Recognition Seal requires the product to contain 5 parts per million or less gluten in the product.
The Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) is a program of The Gluten Intolerance Group. The logo stands for independent verification of quality, integrity, and purity of products. Products carrying the GF logo represent unmatched reliability. According to the GFCO website (www.gfco.org), GFCO certification provides a certification seal that is easily identified and provides consumers assurance that the product meets strict standards for gluten free. GFCO’s standard is 10 parts per million or less gluten in finished products.
How Much Do the Gluten-Free Cookies Cost?
As in the retail market, gluten free cookies are priced higher than other cookies as they cost more to produce. ($5/pouch vs. $4/box of the other cookies.) ABC Bakers must maintain a gluten free facility, and ingredients typically cost more. In addition, each council sets their own pricing for Girl Scout Cookies so you may find that pricing will vary from council to council.
Where can you buy Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies?
Girl Scouts who are in participating councils will be selling the new cookie in the upcoming season.
These participating councils include:
Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast
Girl Scouts of Central California South
Girl Scouts of Central Maryland
Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois
Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts
Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania
Girl Scouts of Heart of Central California
Girl Scouts of Minnesota Wisconsin Lakes & Pines
Girl Scouts of North Carolina Coastal Pines
Girl Scouts of Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont
Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada
Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline
Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Badgerland
Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast
If you know a Girl Scout in one of these councils, be sure to reach out. Or download the Girl Scout Cookie Finder app for iPhone or Android, and find a cookie sale near you.
Are Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies Here to Stay?
ABC says it will conduct research during and after the sale to determine whether to go national with this cookie in the future. Translation: if they sell well, they will go nationwide. If not, they won’t.
Let’s give some love to the Girl Scouts for listening to their members and the recognizing an unmet need for millions of us who loved their cookies before we went gluten-free and look forward to supporting this effort.
On a personal note, if the Girl Scouts develop an agave sweetened thin mint – the first girl scout to sell them to me will win the national cookie selling champion award…cause I’ll buy a truckload.
Learn more about the Girl Scouts of America here.
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Author Information: John Libonati, Florida
Publisher, Glutenfreeworks.com.
Editor & Publisher, Recognizing Celiac Disease.
John can be reached by e-mail here.
I live in Michigan and would love to buy these..how am I supposed to if they arent sold here at all?
Will they come to Canada?
I am diabetic. Why not a sugar free cookie?
They are great cookies! I threw a couple bags in my freezer so I can snack on them all year round.