Lawsuit Claims Girl Scout Cookies Contain Dangerous Heavy Metals and Pesticides
The Girl Scouts of America 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 suit against the Girl Scouts and their manufacturers, Ferrero U.S.A. and Interbake Foods, seeking $5 million in damages. The lawsuit stems from a study by Moms Across America and GMO Science claiming all tested cookies contained heavy metals (aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury) and 13 varieties showed high glyphosate levels.
However, the study faces significant scientific criticism:
- Not peer-reviewed or published in scientific journals
- Limited sample size
- Incorrectly applies water safety standards to food products
The Girl Scouts strongly defend their products' safety, stating:
- All cookies meet FDA, EPA, and federal safety regulations
- Trace heavy metals naturally occur in many foods
- Their manufacturing partners follow Global Food Safety Initiative standards
- Glyphosate presence in baked goods is common and federally regulated
The organization published a statement on February 6 reassuring customers that their cookies remain safe for consumption. While the lawsuit continues in early stages, it highlights growing consumer concerns about food safety and corporate transparency in the food industry.
The lawsuit seeks updated packaging to disclose these substances' presence, though the Girl Scouts maintain their current practices meet all safety requirements. As public debate grows around food safety standards, this case could set important precedents for food manufacturing transparency and labeling requirements.
