How Abe’s Vegan Muffins is Pioneering a Culture of Inclusive Eating in Schools and Beyond

Written by: Annie Taranshansky

As severe food allergies are on the rise – nowadays, an estimated two kids in every classroom suffer with severe food allergies – one company is on a tireless mission to ensure that every child and adult, regardless of dietary and health needs, is able to enjoy a delicious treat in the company of their loved ones. Abe’s Vegan Muffins, a plant-based dessert brand dedicated to creating allergy-friendly baked goods, is changing the landscape of inclusive eating and raising awareness about the impact severe food allergies can have on children and families alike.

This month, we at PBFA got the chance to speak to Tiffany Syrop, Head of Marketing at Abe’s, and her team to learn more about the story behind the company, their mission, and what their vision of the future looks like as more and more people turn to allergen-friendly, plant-based foods.

The Personal Inspiration Behind Abe’s Vegan Muffins

Founded in 2016 by brothers and bakers Joby and Marty Koffman, the story behind Abe’s is a personal one: the company’s own namesake Abe, Joby’s son and Marty’s nephew, suffered from severe food allergies and was isolated from friends, classmates, and teachers during moments of celebration at school. We all remember the pizza and cake parties thrown for us in our childhood classrooms, say on the last day of school before summer break, and how exciting these celebrations were to us as children. Every child, regardless of dietary needs and values, deserves to share in the memory-making splendors of indulgent and delicious treats, and that’s exactly what Abe’s’ founders set out to ensure.

"My brother and I founded Abe's because of Abe! He was born with severe food allergies to eggs, nuts, seeds, and dairy. So we wanted to use our experience in commercial baking to make something that he – and all of the other kids with food allergies – could safely enjoy," shared Marty Koffman, Abe’s co-founder.

Contrary to popular belief, peanut allergies aren't the most common culprit. Tiffany explained, "The most common foods that most children and adults are allergic to are actually dairy and egg. Just having a plant-based option that's dairy-free and egg-free can kind of be half the battle." This insight has shaped Abe's approach to product development, focusing on creating treats that are free especially from these common allergens. But that doesn’t mean Abe’s’ ingredient profile isn’t evolving alongside the rising prevalence of new allergens. Marty added, “Our fans trust us because we are in constant conversation with them and listening to their needs. For example, we were hearing more and more about allergies to pea protein, which is a common ingredient in plant-based foods. So we made sure our facility was 100% pea protein free."

How Abe’s Keeps Their Food Safe

The Abe’s manufacturing facility is a key centerpiece to how Abe’s’ allergen-friendly, plant-based product line is one of the most safe and trusted amongst consumers. Creating truly safe products requires more than just sourcing alternative ingredients; there is a high stakes demand to a meticulous and careful approach to manufacturing. "Our facility is dedicated to producing only Abe's products," Tiffany detailed. Producing in a facility completely exclusive to Abe’s allows for the production team to control potential allergens and prevent any cross-contamination. Specifically as it pertains to Abe’s gluten-free line of products, Tiffany added that the company does “everything we can to control the presence of wheat, whenever we're running any of our gluten-free products."

What do these controls look like? Mark Nagelhout, Abe’s Manager of Quality, Environmental, and Safety, shared with us that they have “robust systems in place” to prevent allergen and gluten cross contamination. “These systems include our sanitation, allergen changeover, and swabbing programs. For example – food contact surfaces are cleaned, sanitized, and swabbed for gluten prior to every gluten-free product run,” Nagelhout described. It’s more than clear that Abe’s takes their quality control responsibilities seriously, and the dedication to their mission shines through in the day-to-day operations of the facility.

Making Food Fun for All

While creating delicious allergen-friendly desserts can present its unique challenges, Tiffany put a positive spin on it, saying that “sometimes having constraints makes you more creative.” Positivity and creativity shine as core pillars of the company, and these pillars are made immediately apparent by the brand’s bright, colorful, and cartoony packaging that stands out on shelves. When asked about the inspiration behind Abe’s’ illustrative packing designs, Tiffany shared, “we’ve created this illustrated joyful world inspired by Harold and the Purple Crayon, where there’s an imaginative and joyful place where everything’s just lower stress… to give folks with allergies reprieve from the anxiety and pressure they must often feel.”

The word “school-friendly” also stands out on the front of the brand’s packaging. As to what this term means to Abe’s, Tiffany explained, “50% of the anaphylactic reactions that happen in schools happen during celebrations. School-friendly means that as many kids as possible in the classroom setting can enjoy our product safely.”

Changing the Status Quo in All Dining Settings

As Abe’s continues to find success, the brand’s vision remains focused on increasing accessibility and inclusivity in the food industry. Looking ahead, they’ve set their sights on becoming the go-to option for school lunches and celebrations, ensuring that children with food allergies never have to feel left out – and that schools can trust Abe’s as a safe, reliable, and utterly delicious default. But for now, Abe's Mini Cupcakes (all plant-based and school-friendly) are available at Sprouts stores nationwide beginning this month!

For Tiffany Syrop and the team at Abe's, creating allergy-friendly, plant-based foods is more than just a business, it's a mission to improve people's lives and bridge the gap that many adults and children feel when their dietary needs differ from what is generally accepted as the status quo. As Tiffany put it herself, "When you change the way someone eats, you change the way they feel. It's really important to make sure that we've got a food system that supports people's well-being on a day-to-day basis.”

To keep up with Abe’s Vegan Muffins, make sure to check out their website and follow them on all their social media @abesmuffins