Girl Scout Cookies

It's Girl Scout Cookie time! 

I look forward to this annual event the same way a kid looks forward to...say Halloween. Come to think about it, I also like Halloween. 


Although, I must admit my enthusiasm for the cookies wanes slightly after I've eaten a whole sleeve of Thin Mints in less than five minutes and I'm left with the impending stomach ache and guilt. 

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I know it's "Cookie Time" when I start seeing groups of little girls selling the boxes of cookies all around town. It's difficult to miss the bright colored boxes stationed at the entrance to almost every grocery store and shopping mall. 

Just the other day I passed a few girls standing on the sidewalk, of a very busy road, mind  you, waving signs at the passing vehicles. 
I have to say, those are determined little girls because here in Michigan it's still darn cold! 

Nowadays it's rare for a Scout to come knocking on my door, cookie order sheet in hand. Usually a co-worker leaves an order form in the break room. This year, said co-worker is on maternity leave thus, no cookies. Oh no! 

So I was very happy when my husband walked in the other night with two boxes of Thin Mints. I was impressed. He doesn't ordinarily spend money on what he would consider over-priced, over rated cookies. It's a lucky week if we include Oreo or Chips Ahoy cookies  on our weekly  grocery list. 

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Imagine my shock and disappointment to find the size of the box and number of cookies has shrunk once again. The boxes of Thin Mints are noticeably smaller than last year. 

How rude. Really, how could they? Don't mess with my Girl Scout cookies, people. 

This got me curious so I decided to do some checking online for an explanation. Not only did I find the boxes have shrunk, they've messed with the ingredients, resulting in a change in the taste. I needed to test the cookies. For research purposes only,  you understand.How else could I report back to you?  It's a tough job but someone has to do it. I was up for the task. If there are a few crumbs in the keyboard, well so be it...that's the way the cookie crumbles...ha...sorry, couldn't help myself. 

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"The continued increase in commodity costs for ingredients and energy used in the manufacturing and distribution of baked products has prompted the Girl Scouts of the USA to approve an industry-wide change in the net weights of licensed Girl Scout Cookies. To offset these costs, Little Brownie Bakers is slightly reducing the net weight in most of its Girl Scout cookie packages." This is a portion of an online statement from Little Brownie Bakers.
A statement from Little Brownie Bakers on the issue on increasing costs.

I did some research which I didn't eat. I learned a few  interesting facts. Over the years there have been a few controversies involving the Girl Scouts and the "cookie' business. 

There was the debate and boycott over ingredients, specifically, the usage of palm oil. Another issue has been the debate over the division and distribution of profits, since in many cases the actual Girl Scout troop gets a very small percentage per box. 

There are several blogs and news articles on this very issue. For a more in depth, albeit cynical look at Girl Scout Cookies check out this article on Food Fight. 

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 According to the Girl Scouts Cookie History website "The sale of cookies as a way to finance troop activities began as early as 1917, five years after Juliette Gordon Low started Girl Scouting in the United States, when the Mistletoe Troop in Muskogee, Oklahoma, baked cookies and sold them in its high school cafeteria as a service project. 

For goodness sake, there is even The Girl Scout Cookie Finder App, available on iPhone and Android devices. It provides GPS coordinates for the nearest cookie sales location. 

See my last blog article about what I think about Smartphones...although I may have to rethink my stance if I can have a Girl Scout Cookie App, for sure! 

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If you haven't already figured it out, my favorite flavor are the Thin Mints
What is yours?