Responding to complaints that its Lemon Chalet Crème cookies have an “off taste and smell,” Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta is halting the sales of that particular cookie and offering replacements to consumers.

A spokesperson issued a statement saying:  “Fortunately, this is a taste issue, not a public safety issue. Girl Scout Lemon Chalet Crème Cookies are SAFE to eat; they may have an unpleasant odor from certain oils used to make the cookies. To maintain quality of the iconic brand of Girl Scout Cookies, LBB (Little Brownie Baker) is choosing to proceed with a Quality Withdrawal and Product Replacement.”

LBB has been baking Girl Scout Cookies in Louisville, KY since 1973. The bakery is licensed by Girl Scouts of the USA to provide eight varieties of cookies for the annual Cookie Program, including Thin Mints, Samoas®, Tagalongs®, Do-si-dos® and Trefoils.

The Girl Scouts decided to pull the cookies after receiving telephone calls from consumers complaining that the cookies had an “off taste and smell.” Product sampling was conducted and determined that although the cookies are safe to eat, certain lots contain oils that may be breaking down, which can result in an ‘off taste and smell and are not up to the organization’s quality standards, said Don Davis, Vice President and General Manager of LBB.

The off taste and smell affects only 6.5% of Lemon Chalet Crème Cookies baked for the nation-wide 2010 Girl Scout Cookie Program. Of the affected 15 lots, eight were shipped to the metro Atlanta area: 7455882; 7455883; 7458522; 7457661; 7458521; 7459401; 7456741 and 7459403. The lot codes are printed directly on the bottom flap of the box of cookies.

No other Girl Scout cookie varieties in the Girl Scout Cookie product line are affected by the withdrawal, the organization said.

“We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused to those who have supported Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta through the purchase of Lemon Chalet Crème Cookies,” said Gary Key, vice president of Development, Marketing and Communication.

Girl Scouts have set up a customer hotline to assist customers with replacement of the cookies: 770-702-9135. For more information, visit www.gsgatl.org.  In addition, consumers can visit the Little Brownie Baker website to obtain a Kellogg product coupon refund.