A New York woman has filed a $5 million class-action lawsuit against Girl Scouts of the USA, alleging that their popular cookies are contaminated with dangerous heavy metals and pesticides.
Amy Mayo, the plaintiff, filed the complaint on March 10, targeting the Girl Scouts and their cookie manufacturers, Ferrero and ABC Bakers. The lawsuit claims that the cookies contain hazardous levels of heavy metals such as aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury, as well as pesticides like glyphosate.
According to the lawsuit, “extensive testing” conducted in 2024 found that 100% of the tested cookies contained at least four of the five heavy metals listed. The cookies were sampled from California, Iowa, and Louisiana to ensure testing accuracy, with results reportedly consistent across the locations.
The cookies tested include some of the Girl Scouts’ most popular offerings, such as Thin Mints, Samoas (Caramel deLites), Tagalongs (Peanut Butter Patties), and Trefoils.
In response to the concerns, Girl Scouts of the USA released a statement on February 6, defending the safety of their products.
“Girl Scout Cookies are safe to consume and are manufactured in accordance with all food safety regulations,” the organization said. The statement also noted that trace amounts of heavy metals can occur naturally in soil and that glyphosate residues can be found in many agricultural products. “These metals are not added to our Girl Scout Cookies,” the statement added.
The controversy gained traction on TikTok earlier this year, with some users falsely claiming the cookies had been recalled by the FDA. However, Forbes clarified that no recall had been issued, and the study’s comparisons were based on EPA water safety standards—not FDA food standards.
Forbes further explained that “the FDA and USDA both allow residues of pesticides and metals in foods at levels deemed non-harmful.” Based on current regulations, the cookies are not considered a health risk.
The lawsuit also highlights that Girl Scouts sell over $1 billion in cookies annually, with the products being marketed and sold by children.
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