Girl Scout Cookie Safety Under Fire: Lawsuit Claims Heavy Metal and Pesticide Contamination
The Girl Scouts organization faces a class-action lawsuit alleging their popular cookies contain dangerous levels of heavy metals and pesticides.
Stacked boxes of Girl Scout cookies
New York resident Amy Mayo filed the $5 million lawsuit against the Girl Scouts of America and their cookie manufacturers, Ferrero U.S.A. and Interbake Foods, claiming the cookies contain unsafe levels of aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and glyphosate.
The lawsuit cites research from Moms Across America and GMO Science, which found these substances in all tested cookies. However, critics including Forbes have highlighted significant flaws in the study:
- Not peer-reviewed or published in scientific journals
- Small sample size
- Inappropriate comparison to water safety standards rather than food standards
The Girl Scouts strongly refute these claims, stating their cookies are completely safe and meet all FDA, EPA, and federal safety regulations. They note that:
- Trace amounts of heavy metals naturally occur in many foods
- Glyphosate is commonly found in baked goods
- Their manufacturing partners follow Global Food Safety Initiative standards
While the lawsuit proceeds through early stages, Girl Scout Cookies remain on sale. The organization maintains product safety while acknowledging this case raises broader questions about food safety standards and corporate transparency in the food industry.
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages and demands updated packaging to disclose the presence of these substances. Though based on contested research, this case highlights growing consumer concerns about food safety and ingredient transparency in popular products.