The Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan (GSHOM) is selling the first gluten free girl scout cookies, actually Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Bites. In my earlier blog post, Gluten Free Girl Scout Cookies and Fall Products, I stated that I would update you on the ingredients if I found them. And here they are.
I contacted GSHOM three weeks ago with several questions:
- Are the ingredients in the Chocolate Chip Bites the same as the ones on the manufacturer’s website?
- Are they made in a gluten-free facility?
- Are they tested for gluten cross-contamination?
- If they are tested, at under which percentage? – 5ppm (parts per million), 10ppm, or 20ppm?
No one replied to my first inquiry, therefore, yesterday I finally got around to following up. They sent me the image of their package label listing the ingredients and nutrition values, hoping this would satisfy my questions. While it answered my question if it was manufactured in a gluten-free facility, (it’s not, as you can see on the label they also manufacture wheat products), it did not answer my questions about testing.
Even if they were manufactured in a gluten-free facility, it would not guarantee against cross-contamination, as ingredients used in their making may contain cross-contamination of gluten. I tried to contact the manufacturer, Whole Vine, in Santa Rosa, California to ask about the testing of the the cookies they make for the GSHOM. Unfortunately, they can only be contacted via email or regular mail. I emailed them today. Once I hear back from them I will update this blog post. So, if you’d like to keep informed, just bookmark this page and check back soon.
Meanwhile, the ingredients in the Girl Scout cookies differ from the manufacturer’s gluten free chocolate chip cookies. See the ingredients and nutritional values in the label pictured below.
UPDATE: Whole Vine immediately replied to my inquiry. (That was wonderful!) The girl scout cookies were tested in the beginning, middle, and end runs, resulting in ND = No Gluten Detected under 20ppm (parts per million), which is currently suggested (not final ruling) by the FDA. They sent me the actual testing results document for my review, but not for publication. Therefore, take my word. It has been tested. Enjoy!
The GSHOM emailed me stating that these cookies may be purchased and shipped directly to us through their Kalamazoo Store by calling 1-800-49-Scout (1-800-497-2688). I think that this would be a wonderful gift for a child that is disappointed that they cannot have Girl Scout cookies.
Facebook Comment:
“I am in Missouri. I have been our troops cookie mom for many years. My daughter was diagnosed with Celiac last year so I was so excited to see any gluten free girl scout cookies. I mentioned that I saw them to our area council and they knew nothing about these cookies. I then mentioned them to the company that makes the regular girl scout cookies. I was told that the Michigan council did this on their own and have been told by the national organization to stop. These are not official girl scout cookies from what I was told. I have not looked into them any further since I know that there is no way I will be seeing them here in Missouri.”
~C.O.W.
Thanks so much for being our gluten free detective and doing the work to track down this info. The sad part is when someone who isn’t gluten free excitedly buys a treat they think is GF and we still can’t eat it.
You are very welcome, Carrie! My pleasure!
Carla