Key Highlights
- Girl Scout Cookies are getting attention because there are worries about heavy metals and traces of glyphosate in them. This is making many people care about food safety.
- A class action lawsuit has been filed against the Girl Scouts of the USA. It says marketing was misleading and that the cookies’ makers did not tell people about the contaminants in the cookies.
- A group of advocates found levels of cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic in the cookies after doing a study.
- Some people think the study results should not be trusted completely because the small sample size was used, and it has not been published in a scientific journal.
- These claims challenge the long-standing Girl Scouts’ mission of transparency. A lot of cookie customers and people everywhere now feel unsure.
- Food safety rules are also in the spotlight. The FDA and other agencies have not called for recalls. This makes some people wonder about food safety standards in place.
Introduction
The well-known group, Girl Scouts of the USA, is now under a close watch. People are worried about food safety when it comes to Girl Scout Cookies. Some have claimed there could be heavy metals and pesticide contaminants in these popular cookies. Because of this, a class action lawsuit was started against the group.
This has made many people question how safe it is to eat Girl Scout Cookies. Some now feel unsure if they can trust the cookies from the girl scouts. There are also new worries about the truthfulness and transparency in how these cookies are sold. A lot of people want to know what will happen next for the group and for those who have supported them. People are now taking a closer look at these concerns about food safety, heavy metals, and contaminants in the cookies. This case matters a lot to anyone who cares about transparency or about making sure the food we buy is safe.
Understanding the Girl Scouts Cookies Lawsuit
A class action lawsuit has been filed in federal court against the Girl Scouts and the bakers who make girl scout cookies. The lawsuit claims that there was false advertising and that girl scout cookies may have unsafe things in them. Amy Mayo was the first to file this case, and now two more plaintiffs from New York have joined her in the fight.
The big problem in this lawsuit is that tests found all the girl scout cookies had toxic contaminants. These things found in the cookies are lead, cadmium, and some traces of glyphosate. The plaintiffs claim that people were told these snacks were safe and would not have anything bad in them. That is what started the fight about girl scout cookies and why they have now taken it to court.
Key Allegations: Heavy Metals and Pesticides
One of the big things in this lawsuit is that some girl scout cookies might have heavy metals and pesticides in them. A group called Moms Across America and another called GMO Science tested the cookies. They found traces of glyphosate and high levels of heavy metals like cadmium and lead in what they checked. They said thin mints had the most glyphosate out of all the cookies. At the same time, peanut butter patties showed the highest levels of toxic metals.
In fact, 76% of these samples had more than the EPA’s safe limits for drinking water. So, there are more worries about what this means for health. But Kelly Johnson-Arbor, MD, says it is not right to use EPA water standards to check baked goods. Glyphosate and other contaminants can be found in a lot of foods, and eating these cookies now and then should not hurt most people.
The study done by these groups has not been checked by other experts or put in a scientific journal. Because of this, some people doubt if the results are true or not.
Timeline of Legal Action and Public Response
The problems with Girl Scout Cookies began to pick up after two groups put out a report in December 2024. Here is a look at the timeline:
| Date | Event |
| December 2024 | Moms Across America and GMO Science shared that they found heavy metals and glyphosate in the cookies. |
| March 10, 2025 | Amy Mayo started a class action lawsuit. After some time, two new New York plaintiffs took her place. |
| March 19, 2025 | Girl Scouts USA spoke out against the study. In a blog post, the group told their cookie customers that the cookies are safe. |
People feel different ways about the news. Some people feel upset. Others ask questions about how they did the study or if the cookies are safe.
The Science Behind the Claims
The talk around girl scout cookies started when a recent study found trace amounts of heavy metals and glyphosate in them. These contaminants got into the food from things like polluted soil and air.
Some critics say this study was not peer reviewed. Because of this, many people now question how strong the science is. Toxicologists, such as Donald W. Schaffner, PhD, feel that the study is not enough to show real risks. That is because it has not been properly checked. Regulatory agencies still support current food safety standards. They say there is little risk if people only eat a moderate amount of girl scout cookies. Food safety and food safety standards are important for everyone.
What Studies Reveal About Contaminants
A small test was done using 25 cookie samples. The cookies came from places like California, Iowa, and Louisiana. The test found toxic contaminants in the cookies. Some of these were lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium. These were all tested Girl Scout Cookies. The levels of heavy metals found were higher than the EPA water guidelines. Lead exposure is a big worry, especially for young children. Because of this, many people are concerned about girl scout cookies and the contaminants found in them.
Even with this news, some experts say you do not have to stop eating Girl Scout Cookies. Kelly Johnson-Arbor, MD, says that eating Girl Scout Cookies, even if they have small amounts of contaminants, every now and then is not the same as being at risk for health problems over a long time.
Still, parents may want to not let kids eat too many of these. This is not only because of the contaminants, but also because the food is high in sugar, fat, and calories. It is good to keep food safety in mind for this reason.
Comparing U.S. and International Food Safety Standards
Food safety rules in the United States are not the same as in other places. Agencies in each country have their own ways to handle heavy metals and other toxic contaminants found in food. The table below shows how the main groups set their rules to keep you safe from these contaminants.
| Agency | Regulatory Limits |
| FDA (U.S.) | Focuses action levels on infant foods. There are no set limits for heavy metals in snacks like cookies. Cases are checked one by one. |
| EPA (U.S.) | Has standards for drinking water, but these do not match the rules for baked goods. Small trace amounts of contaminants are allowed. |
| European Union (EU) | Has strict top limits for heavy metals, even in things like baked goods. The amount of lead allowed can be from 0.01 mg/kg to 0.8 mg/kg, depending on the food. |
These rules are not the same in every place, so there is a lot of talk about food safety standards. People want to know how the world can work together to keep heavy metals and toxic contaminants out of our food. Food safety is important to everyone. It is about what steps we take to stop these contaminants from getting into what we eat.
Impacts on the Girl Scouts Organization
The lawsuit has brought the Girl Scouts of the USA into the news. This has made things tough for the leaders, the volunteers, and the cookie customers. Now, a lot of people wonder if the group cares about ethics and food safety. This problem has made all girl scouts feel stressed.
With everyone watching, the Girl Scouts now say again that their cookies follow all the right rules. They meet all regulatory compliance standards. But this issue shows that people want more transparency and clear answers from the girl scouts and groups like them. To keep customers and the community happy, they need to work hard. Food safety, honesty, and good communication are very important.
Reactions from Leadership and Volunteers
Leaders and volunteers from the Girl Scouts of America have talked about how they work hard to keep transparency and trust, even while the legal case goes on. They want people to know that the safety of girl scouts cookies lawsuit and their cookie customers is always a top priority for them. The Girl Scouts of America say that keeping everyone safe matters the most, and they will do what it takes to look out for their girls and the people who buy cookies from them.
They use tools like email to tell people they follow strict food safety standards. These rules match what the FDA says needs to be done. Even with all this, people have said some bad things about them. This talk has made their workers and helpers feel sad.
The group knows how important the girl scouts cookies lawsuit reputation is. They build their base on how people in and out always follow good community habits and stay honest. To keep moving forward, the group needs to handle these worries in a clear way. Being open is the best way to stick to their food safety promise. It also shows they care about the safety of girl scouts and their cookie customers.
Effects on Cookie Sales and Community Trust
The allegations have made Girl Scout Cookie Season feel less exciting. There is now a drop in cookie sales. A lot of people are more worried about safety limits and what contaminants could be inside. This has caused many in the community to lose trust in the group, and consumer trust is now lower.
For young girls, this problem is not in line with the idea that selling cookies should make them feel strong and sure of themselves. A lot of parents feel unsure about letting their kids take part now. They are thinking about the possible health risks and the bad things they read or hear about.
To win back consumer trust, the organisation has to do more. They need to show more transparency in what they do. One way is to use stricter rules for the ingredients in each batch. Sales are not as good now, and this makes people ask if the organisation can still be strong in the future.
Conclusion
To sum up, the lawsuit about girl scout cookies has made a lot of people think about food safety and what this could mean for the girl scouts’ name. Some claims say these cookies may have heavy metals and pesticides in them. Because of this, it is now important to look into both the science behind these claims and what they could mean for everyone who loves or supports girl scouts. How leaders and helpers respond will play a big part in helping the group go through this and win back trust from the community. As people keep thinking about cookie sales, food safety, and what might be in these cookies, parents and others who care about this should stay up to date and be ready to act. If you want more news or tips about girl scout cookies, heavy metals, girl scouts, food safety, or pesticides, make sure to check back for more updates.
