Girl Scout cookies are under scrutiny after recent testing revealed the presence of heavy metals and pesticides, leading to a $5 million lawsuit. Tests conducted by GMOScience and Moms Across America in 2024 found aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and traces of glyphosate in cookie samples from three states.

New York resident Amy Mayo filed the lawsuit against Girl Scouts of the USA, Ferrero, and ABC Bakers, claiming that 100% of tested samples contained concerning levels of these substances. The study examined 25 cookies from California, Iowa, and Louisiana, with each sample containing at least four out of five heavy metals.

The Girl Scouts organization maintains their cookies are safe, stating that:

• Cookies comply with all federal food safety regulations
• Heavy metals occur naturally in soil
• Glyphosate is commonly found in agricultural products
• No metals are intentionally added to their cookies
• Manufacturing follows strict food safety guidelines

Industry experts have questioned the study's methodology, noting that:

• Results were compared to EPA water standards rather than FDA food safety regulations
• Both FDA and USDA allow certain levels of pesticide and metal residues in food
• The FDA has not issued any recalls for Girl Scout Cookies

While social media reactions have sparked calls for boycotts, the case remains in early legal stages. The outcome could potentially impact how Girl Scout Cookies are tested, labeled, and marketed in the future, affecting the organization's billion-dollar cookie program.

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