One Tough Cookie: The Insensitivity of Cookie Chains for Nut Allergies
I would not consider myself a person who possesses a “sweet tooth.” I tend to favor more salty zests, and I often dislike the overpowering sugar content in many popular candies. However, I am most definitely a chocolate chip cookie gal at heart.
I find nothing sweeter than stepping into the kitchen and inhaling the delightful aroma that instantly makes my mouth water, almost as if Pavlov himself was conditioning me to crave the delectable confection. For me, this scent (and eventually the heavenly taste) also reinforces the validity of my baking skills, as I often must bake my chocolate chip cookies for myself from scratch, considering that many popular cookie chains do not satisfy my nut allergy concerns.
Not all individuals with nut allergies have the ability to (nor might they desire to) go through the baking process step by step: buying each ingredient (which implies reading all sub-ingredients within these elements to ensure they are free of nuts), enduring the somewhat arduous task of constant mixing that consistently makes one’s arm ache, cleaning each individual ingredient and mixing tool, waiting for the cookies to properly bake, ensure that the cookies are not raw, the list continues. So, it would seem entirely logical and plausible to assume that popular cookie chains, among them being Crumbl Cookies, Levain Bakery, and Insomnia Cookies, would avoid nut ingredients so that 3 million Americans could safely indulge in these treats. However, this is sadly not the case, and it is time to discuss.
Crumbl Cookies is a prominent cookie chain with “600+ bakeries in 47 states nationwide.” It is particularly known for its weekly rotating menu, meaning the cookie lineup changes each week with the exception of their chocolate chip cookies and chilled pink sugar cookies. Because of this consistently changing arrangement, it is difficult to discern which cookies would be safe for those with nut allergies. Crumbl’s own website actually has allergy information that updates with each cookie being served at the time. At the top of this page, Crumbl recognizes that all of their cookies could potentially come into contact with major allergens, including peanuts and tree nuts. While this notice is always appreciated and required, it is slightly disappointing for those with nut allergies that they are unable to indulge in any of the fresh, social-media-viral confections simply because of potential cross-contamination.
Considering that all cookies are made in the same location, it is very important and completely understandable to notify potential consumers of these concerns. However, some preventative measures to separate these treats to provide more accessibility for those with allergies would be even more inclusive and potentially open Crumbl’s demographic to the nut allergy community. Although, I also recognize that individuals with less severe, potentially non-life threatening, allergies do not concern themselves with this cross-contamination. As always, it is important to speak with an allergist or medical professional to determine one’s own limits and concerns, but it is possible (although rare) for an individual with nut allergies to be able to consume cross-contaminated food. Because of this, I will continue to analyze the cookie lineup for this week: Milk Chocolate Chip, Classic Pink Sugar, Vanilla Glaze ft. Cinnamon Toast Crunch™, Birthday Cake, Neapolitan, and Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip. Only two out of the six of the aforementioned cookies are cited for containing nuts: Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip (for containing peanuts) and Classic Pink Sugar (for containing tree nuts). While 2/6 might not seem like a concerning statistic, it is important to remember that Classic Pink Sugar is a constant despite Crumbl’s ever-changing menu, meaning all inches of Crumbl’s bakery have likely been in contact, in some way or another (by the frosting bag, by the classic pink box, etc.) with the “real almond frosting” on this sweet treat. This further reinforces the notion that the confections made by Crumbl Cookies are not truly safe for those with nut allergies, nor does the company seem extremely concerned with enacting change to include those with nut allergies.
Moving on to another cookie chain, Levain Bakery has 13 extremely popular locations in various bustling cities, among them being Boston, Chicago, and New York City. With Levain Bakery’s “signature” (meaning their most desired) cookie flavors being “Chocolate Chip Walnut, Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip and Oatmeal Raisin,” they clearly do not favor those with nut allergies. In terms of their provided allergen information, Levain makes it clear that they “are not an allergy-free bakery.” Each cookie contains the same allergen information, whether they are titled to contain peanuts and tree nuts or not.
Once again, the shared equipment notice is greatly appreciated and simultaneously extremely disheartening. This immediately makes all treats and offerings from Levain Bakery unsafe for a majority of those with nut allergies. Although they state that they will “do [their] best to prevent cross-contamination,” this is extremely difficult to achieve, and their cookies will likely remain unsafe despite a new facade of protection and inclusivity because they are trying their “best.”
Insomnia Cookies is another large cookie chain, with over 200 locations nationwide and the ability to ship their treats. Allergen information for Insomnia Cookie’s confections is not as easily accessible as the previous two cookie chains. Instead, if selecting their first and post popular cookie ordering option, “12-pack,” consumers are allowed to select any combination of 21 offered cookies. Three of these 21 flavors contain a peanut or tree nut in their name alone, including Peanut Butter Chip, White Chocolate Macadamia, and Vegan Pecan Pie. Once again, even if 3/21 does not appear to be an overwhelming majority, it is important to consider cross-contamination. However, even after adding these cookies to the box, no message appears for allergen information on the ordering website itself. This lack of direct communication of allergens, despite it being somewhat obvious for 3 flavors, is a blatant disregard for those with nut allergies (and, in reality, any other allergy).
Although another quick internet search does provide a copy of Insomnia Cookies Master Nutrition Facts Guide, this website also fails to provide any information regarding cross contamination. This resource only details allergen concerns per each cookie, thereby only highlighting nut allergy worries in relation to cookies with some sort of nut or peanut in its name. There is no “may contain” information on these ingredient lists, only the “contains” notice. The aforementioned “cross-contamination” notifications from Crumbled Cookies and Levain Bakery were disappointing, but the lack of any similar notification for one’s safety on behalf of Insomnia Cookies is shameful. In fact, even from my prior nut allergy knowledge, I was able to find flaws and inaccuracies in Insomnia’s individual cookie allergen information. For example, their “Classic with M&M’s” cookie is only said to contain egg, milk, soy, and wheat, making it appear safe for those with nut allergies. However, M&M’s actually notify their consumers that the small chocolate candies “may contain peanuts,” thereby meaning this “Classic with M&M’s” cookie may contain peanuts as well. A lack of communication in relation to allergens is concerning, but inaccurate communication of potential allergens is despicable.
While there are many other popular cookie chains in the United States and beyond, I feel these three have provided sufficient evidence to support the argument that cookie companies have no concern for nut allergies, nor do they seem to make any progressive efforts to include those with nut allergies. As someone who falls in this excluded group, I would certainly appreciate if any attempt was made not only to include those with nut allergies as potential consumers, but also just to display some concern for the safety of these individuals.
We cannot accept this notion and say something along the lines of “that’s just how the cookie crumbles.” I certainly do not want my cookie to crumble this way, and I firmly believe that society should not passively allow this blatant exclusion and lack of concern to continue.
This is not how my cookie crumbles, and it should not be how yours does either.
