A Real Lemon? Girl Scout Cookie Recall of Lemon Chalet Crème Cookies
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on February 26, 2010
Cookie Recall: Selected batches of Girl Scouts Lemon Chalet Creme cookies are being recalled
I was a Girl Scout leader for seven years. Had the best time imaginable — took the girls on field trips to the science museum and the police and fire departments, marched in parades, camped at local Girl Scout properties, helped many charities, wrote and sent letters to deployed soldiers, sang at retirement centers… and of course, we sold Girl Scout cookies. This was our troop’s sole avenue to raise money for the entire year for activities and supplies, as it is for thousands of other Girl Scout troops across the country.
Cookies are a HUGE deal. Our troop worked its collective tush off for many years, and we were the top cookie-selling troop for our neighborhood three years in a row. Let me tell you, to accomplish that feat was at times PURE HELL. And my poor son, whose birthday is in late January, was always gracious and willing — for years — to postpone his birthday party for a few months because there was so much to do with the organizing and selling of those boxed Girl Scout treats. In Arizona, cookie sales start about mid February and go through early March, but there’s a huge amount of pre- and post-selling work to be done, especially for troop leaders. An average troop likely spends about four to six months in active “cookie mode.”
So, this breaking story about a GS cookie recall of the Lemon Chalet Crème cookies has left me a bit perplexed. I’m sure that quality assurance at the Little Brownie Bakers’ factories is top-notch, but why are these cookies “off smelling”? If there’s “nothing wrong” with them, why do they reportedly “taste funny”? This is their biggest, likely ONLY, account. How hard is it to make lemon crème cookies correctly? Granted, untold thousands must be made (Thin Mints are the most popular GS cookie, and the lemon cookies are usually way down the list for orders).
Info from the Girl Scouts of the USA official blog, Voluntary Product Withdraw: Small Selection of Lemon Chalet Crème Cookies:
Hello Everyone – Here is a statement on our voluntary product withdrawal of a small selection of Chalet Crème Cookies. First and foremost, there is no safety risk and second, no other Girl Scout Cookies are affected.
Girl Scouts of the USA received some complaints involving Little Brownie Baker’s Chalet Crème Cookies. The complaints centered on the taste and/or smell of the cookies. After doing some fact-finding, we learned that the Lemon Chalet cookies of the 15 lots in question are safe to eat; but do not pass Little Brownie’s quality test. Thirty-one councils have been affected, and all have been notified with specific batch numbers.
From Michael Finney’s Consumer Blog, 7 On Your Side: Girl Scout cookie recall? Say it ain’t so!:
The Girl Scouts are replacing some of the Lemon Chalet Crème Cookies it sold. Several batches have a “funny taste” and some smell differently than they should. There are no safety concerns, but the Girl Scouts is still issuing a voluntary recall so everyone gets the cookies that taste and smell as they did in the past. When I spoke to the Girl Scout headquarters in New York City a little while ago, I was told local councils buy from one of two bakeries and the cookies could show up in one town, but not the next town over. If the cookies don’t smell right that’s your tip off.
From Twirlit, Girl Scout Cookie Recall: Put Down that Lemon Chalet Creme:
Only Lemon Chalet Creme cookies have been recalled due to complaints, though they are reportedly safe to eat. Hmm. The Louisville, Kentucky-based company said in a statement that no bacteria was found in the cookies, but they are simply “not up to our quality standards.” Very mysterious. What’s wrong with them? Not lemony enough? Not creamy enough? Not Girl Scouty enough?
Those who have purchased one of the affected girl scout cookie boxes can call 1-800-962-1718 or visit www.littlebrowniebakers.com to find out the lot codes of the affected cookies. All of the Girl Scout Councils that received these lot codes will be notified directly. Little Brownies will provide replacement product for councils and consumers. No other Girl Scout cookies are involved.
From WLWT Cincinnati News, Bad Taste, Smell Prompts Girl Scout Cookie Recall:
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The breakdown of oils in some lemon Girl Scout Cookies may give them a bad taste or smell, prompting the manufacturer to issue a voluntary recall.
Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana sent out the recall notice Thursday.
Scout spokeswoman Betsy Gladish said in a news release that the cookies are not a health hazard.
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I bought my first obligatory box of Thin Mints yesterday (I usually buy 7 or 8 boxes a year) and was quite disappointed that they don’t taste as \minty\ as they used to. Wonder what’s up at the cookie factory?
It just confirms my suspicion that the only GS cookies worth buying are the ones dipped or drizzled in chocolate!
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