A shocking lawsuit has been filed against Girl Scouts of the USA, claiming that their beloved cookies contain dangerous levels of heavy metals and pesticides.
The suit, filed by New York resident Amy Mayo, alleges that 100% of the tested samples contained aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury, as well as traces of the pesticide glyphosate.
Mayo is seeking $5 million in damages from the Girl Scouts and their manufacturers, Ferrero and ABC Bakers. According to the lawsuit, the contaminated cookies have been marketed and sold by children across the country, raising concerns about food safety and transparency.
Testing Sparks Nationwide Concern
The lawsuit is based on testing conducted in 2024 by consumer groups GMOScience and Moms Across America. The groups tested 25 cookies from three different states, California, Iowa, and Louisiana, to ensure consistent results. According to the findings, each cookie sample contained at least four out of five heavy metals, leading to concerns about long-term health effects.
The lawsuit alleges that these toxic substances pose a potential risk to consumers, especially children. It also highlights the $1 billion cookie industry controlled by the Girl Scouts, arguing that consumers were misled about the ingredients in these iconic treats.
Girl Scouts Responds: “Cookies Are Safe”
The Girl Scouts of the USA issued a statement denying any wrongdoing. The organization emphasized that their cookies comply with all federal food safety regulations and that any trace amounts of heavy metals occur naturally in soil. They also stated that glyphosate is commonly found in agricultural products and is not intentionally added to the cookies.
“These metals are not added to our Girl Scout Cookies,” the statement reads. “Our cookies are manufactured under strict food safety guidelines, and we remain confident in their safety.”
Consumer Backlash & Social Media Outrage
The allegations quickly went viral, with social media users expressing outrage and some even calling for a boycott of Girl Scout Cookies. TikTok videos have spread claims that the FDA issued a recall, though this has been debunked. The FDA has not recalled any Girl Scout Cookies, but concerns remain over the testing methodology used in the lawsuit.
A Forbes article questioned the validity of the findings, pointing out that the study compared the results to EPA water safety standards rather than FDA-approved food safety regulations. Experts argue that pesticide and metal residues in food are allowed at levels deemed non-harmful by both the FDA and USDA.
What Happens Next?
The case is likely to face a long legal battle, with scientific evidence and regulatory standards at the center of the dispute. If successful, the lawsuit could force major changes in the way Girl Scout Cookies are tested, labeled, and marketed.
For now, consumers remain divided, some dismiss the claims as fearmongering, while others are reconsidering their cookie purchases. The Girl Scouts’ annual cookie drive has always been a cherished tradition, but this controversy has cast a shadow over one of America’s favorite treats.
