Local girl scouts go trans-fat free

Author: Kelly Janis

The Girl Scouts' Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Patties and Caramel deLites, which cause mouths to water across the state of Vermont and the nation at large, are arriving soon at a doorstep near you. But this year, something is missing.

The Girl Scouts program has evolved continually throughout the course of its nearly 95 year existence to situate itself at the forefront of contemporary trends. Now, the Scouts' latest transformation is aimed at the waistlines of its greatest enthusiasts.

"All Girl Scout cookies are now 'zero trans fat per serving' with the same great taste that has made them one of America's favorite treats over the years," announced Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Kathy Cloninger in a press release. "This enhancement reflects our deep commitment to girls and the millions of Americans who support the Girl Scout Cookie Program as America's leading business and economic literacy program for girls."

Girl Scout Council of Vermont Field Director Mary Alice Waterman has observed marked benefits to the elimination of trans fat. "The recipe changes have given our troops the opportunity to discuss the importance of eating right, maintaining a well-balanced diet and getting plenty of exercise," Waterman said. "So far, the feedback to the change in our cookies has been positive. In fact very few people have noticed a difference in the taste of our cookies."

Lisa Quenneville of Salisbury leads a troop of second and third graders enrolled in the Brownies program, a division of the Girl Scouts which caters to six and seven year olds.

"I have had a huge response to the elimination of the trans fats," Quenneville said. "Just about everyone that we sold to mentioned seeing on TV or in the paper that the Girl Scouts had taken [the fats] out."

Trans fat is a specific type of saturated fat which occurs naturally in meat and dairy products, as well as artificially in the partial hydrogenation of plant oils, a process utilized regularly in commercial food production. It is typically regarded as both an unnecessary and detrimental constituent of an individual's diet, and is widely believed to increase the risk of coronary heart disease. As a result, trans fats have fallen under heavy fire from those who wish to see them driven out of everything from Oreos to meals at Walt Disney theme parks.

In the case of the Girl Scouts, the move away from trans fats was implemented in a gradual fashion.

"While some 'zero trans fat per serving' varieties of Girl Scout cookies were available in 2005 and 2006," Cloninger explained, "this year all varieties will contain less than 0.5 grams trans fat per serving."

Years of forethought and effort underlie the switch. "Girl Scouting has cared about this issue personally as well as professionally and we have worked diligently with our bakers over the past several years to address the issue of trans fats," Cloninger said.

The Girl Scouts have a demonstrated reputation for taking the initiative in matters concerning trans fats.

In 2003, The United States Department of Health & Human Services announced that, by Jan. 1, 2006, food labels would be required to list the quantity of unhealthy trans fatty acids present in a given item.

"We are empowering Americans to make healthier choices about the foods they eat," Health & Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said in a statement released at the time. "By putting trans fat information on food labels, we are making it possible for consumers to make better educated choices to lower their intake of these unhealthy fats and cholesterol. It's just one more way we're helping consumers lead healthier lives."

The Girl Scouts were on the cutting edge of this requirement.

"We began listing the amount of trans fats one full year before FDA requirements went into effect," said Cloninger.

Quenneville's buyers have thus far responded with overwhelmingly positive attitudes toward the nutritional enhancement. "Everyone had good things to say and was very excited about this change," she said.

Quenneville attributes this enthusiasm to the public awareness cultivated by the increased media attention granted to the issue. "Trans fat has had a lot of press lately and people know it is bad for you," Quenneville said. "I think this is a positive step that can be enjoyed by all."

Girl Scouts is a 3.7 million member organization which, according to its mission statement, "builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place." Over 8,000 girls and adults are registered members of the Girl Scout Council of Vermont. Of these members, 457 hail from Addison County, where they participate in special outreach programs, attend day camp, train in skills ranging from CPR to outdoor adventures and participate in the beloved cookie sales for which Girl Scouts is renowned.

Unfortunately, those who view the change as a license to indulge are urged to reign in their ravenous appetites.

"As much as we all love Girl Scout cookies, we still recommend that any type of dessert or snack be eaten in moderation," Cloninger said, "whether it's an annual treat like Halloween and Easter candies or even popcorn at the movies."