Nana's Cookies, Chocolate, No Gluten, 3.2 Ounce (Pack of 12)

I used to love all Nana's products but it seems quality control is failing, OR recent changes to the original ingredients are adversely affecting product quality.Number 1 rule of a good product: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.At least for the Wheat Free Chocolate Chip Cookies, Nana's has changed the ingredients and recipe (see comparison list at the bottom of the review). Apparently, even Amazon was caught off guard by this since their "About the product" is now incorrect as follows:1. These are NOT "3.5-ounce packages" anymore, they are now 3.2 ounces.2. These are no longer "fruit-juice sweetened", which may account for the reduction in ounces and the product's dryness/stale problems (more about that issue later). These now use only "brown rice syrup".3. "No refined sugar" is also incorrect. The chocolate chips were previously sweetened with "Whole Grain Malted Barley and Corn". The chocolate chips now list "Sugar" as the first ingredient.4. They are now using Barley flour as the main ingredient instead of Oat Flour5. They are now using Palm Oil instead of Expeller Pressed Canola Oil.You may have noticed this product was "offline" for almost 1.5 months in March/April of 2018 while Amazon reviewed the increased complaints about the inaccurate product description, but I suspect the fluctuations in quality (read: stale cookies) also have caused a spike in product returns/replacements. Almost 20% 1-star reviews is a fluke? Hello, I think something is not quite right.All of the Nana's products previously had a characteristically MOIST somewhat dense texture but still possessing a nice traditional cookie crumb. The ingredients were previously top notch imparting most of the different cookie products (except the gluten-free kinds) with strong nose of vanilla and hints of other spices. The fruit-juice sweetening never felt overly sweet and never revealed itself as fruit flavouring replacing traditional sugar.In the last 6-12 months it has been like playing cookie roulette when ordering these. 2 out of 3 times, they are moist and chewy. 1 out of 3 times, they are dry and have a stale smell/taste. Amazon is now refusing to replace or refund these. After a second request, thankfully Amazon was kind enough to grant a refund exception even though the product is categorized as non-returnable.I HAD been buying Nana's since 2005. I don't think Nana's management is thinking about their core customer's needs by making such changes to the quality of a time-honored recipe. This WAS a cookie for all us kooky people that couldn't or chose not to eat 'normal' cookies with 'normal' ingredients. Eliminating core components like fruit-juice sweetening, including ingredients with processed sugars, producing dry-ass stale cookies... why mess with success?? That's the way the cookie crumbles, I guess.Original Ingredients:Organic Oat Flour, Barley Flour, Fruit Juice, Whole Grain Dextrins (A Natural and Unmodified Starch), Expeller Pressed Canola Oil (Gmo Free), Chocolate Chips (Whole Grain Malted Barley and Corn, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin Added As An Emulsifier, and Pure Vanilla), Oats, Baking Powder (Non-aluminum), Natural Flavorings.NEW & "Improved" Ingredients:Wheat free flour blend (BARLEY FLOUR, oat flour, oats), BROWN RICE SYRUP, PALM OIL, semi-sweet chocolate (SUGAR, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin [an emulsifier], natural vanilla extract), baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), vanilla extract, baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, corn starch, monocalcium phosphate), natural flavorings, sea salt

These are very tasty cookies. Originally I bought them because they are gentler on one's stomach. After a few necessary surgeries last year I found that wheat products tended to make me feel bloated and uncomfortable if I ate too much of them. Thus I tried to cut back on wheat. Of course cookies are one of those things we feel guilty about anyhow. Well I don't feel guilty eating these cookies! They have no ingredients which cause an allergic reation such as refined sugars, dairly or wheat. Also they are delicious. My finace has been requesting them and he grew up on the all-american startch and potato diet!The reason for 4 stars:The only suggestion I have is that the packaging be improved. By this I mean that each package has 2 servings but the serving is only half a cookie! So one can gobble up too much at a time. If they would make one-serving sizes that would be great. It's easier to control calories, requires less mental calculation and is an honest way to report calories. Also for children it's easier to say "one" cookie, then "half" a cookie.However I don't hold this too much against the company because this packaging is standard industry practise. However I hope in future they will think about making a single-serving package or a same-size package that has 2 cookies.Otherwise they are fantastic for what they are meant to be...that is a cookie alternative for those of us with sensitive digestive systems, and perhaps a few loved ones with a sweet tooth.

As for flavor? My three grandkids like these better than Oreos. They call them moon cookies, given their size, and I don't mind letting them have a whole one considering the ingredients. I myself love them, and also consider them practical: A 3.2 oz. cookie is like a portable meal when I am in a hurry and need to take some food with me. My only wish is that the company would go back to using safflower oil instead of the palm oil they switched to. The palm oil does not taste as good, and worse, it is much higher in saturated fat. But this cookie is gluten-free, healthy, and tasty. I highly recommend it.

Interesting thing about reviews: you can tell as much about the reviewers as the items they're writing about.I've tried almost all of Nana's products and the No Gluten Ginger Cookie is my FAVORITE. There's absolutely no guilt for me. Brown rice and tapioca flour? Fruit juice? Canola oil? What's not to like? If, like me, you have to avoid dairy and sugar cane, it can be difficult to find a sweet treat that satisfies. And if your girlfriend is gluten-free? Well, now you're really in trouble.Fortunately, along comes Nana.This cookie has a great texture (almost like a scone: the real kind, from the UK) and a little kick. It somehow maintains that perfect balance between spicy and sweet. (See preamble, above.) As with most of Nana's products, there's just one problem: I would be happier if the cookie were about as big as my head. But that's why they come in boxes of twelve: one box lasts almost a week!Nana's other gluten free, dairy free, sugar free flavors - chocolate, lemon, and chocolate crunch - are all wonderful too, but this little wanton want-one is special. Trust me. Don't listen to the naysayers. They just don't appreciate perfection; moist, buttery, spicy-sweetness.(See preamble, above.)Dear Nana: whatever that "natural flavoring" is, which hits the roof of my mouth like a monkey landing on my back, please don't take it out. I pledge my everlasting devotion to your kitchen. I'll even wash the dishes...