What Does "School-Friendly" Mean to Us??
We started selling Abe's – the first "school-friendly" muffin – back in 2016. While a lot has changed since then, allergy safety &, ultimately, inclusivity matter more than ever – especially while Food Allergy Awareness Month is upon us (May).
Abraham (our founders’ son/nephew) was frequently left out of snack time & school celebrations due to severe food allergies. He clutched carrot sticks when other kids shared cookies & cupcakes. He carried Epi-Pens in a fanny pack at all times, constantly answering his classmates’ questions of “why?”. He felt isolated but wasn't alone.
The number of American children with food allergies has been growing about 4 times faster than the population.* Today, an estimated two kids in every classroom have a severe food allergy (per?@FARE) – most commonly to peanuts &/or tree nuts, but also to egg, dairy, wheat, soy, or sesame. Most schools have life-saving allergy protocols in place, but a "nut-free lunch table" can inadvertently cause kids like Abe to be left out or bullied.
This is exactly why we make "school-friendly" muffins & treats; to help parents & caregivers prevent this from happening.
Abe's is first and foremost about allergy safety. All our muffins, cakes, and brownies are baked in a dedicated facility free from peanuts, tree nuts**, dairy, egg, soy, sesame, & pea protein. We have strict standards in place to prevent cross-contact in our gluten-free line as well. We bake everything ourselves, just like Abe's mom & dad did for him.
While allergy safety is the first priority, we also make sure to always choose all-natural, non-GMO ingredients for our products – believing parents & caregivers shouldn't have to settle for treats with artificial colors, mono/diglycerides, titanium dioxide, or synthetic flavors to celebrate a child's birthday.
A letter from a mom in Massachusetts who had just given her son an Abe’s cornbread muffin for the first time read: "His face lit up with joy when he tried it. It’s so rare to find an amazing food that’s safe for him at the store, & I wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart."
His happiness is what "school-friendly" means to us. ??
*Source: McKinsey, 2020. “Consumers with food allergies: A growing market remains underserved.”
**Some products contain coconut.
