What’s Really in Your Girl Scout Cookies? A New Lawsuit Says It’s Not Just Sugar

Girl Scouts of America is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit that claims its cookies contain heavy metals and pesticides. 

According to Reuters, the lawsuit was filed in federal court on Monday against Girl Scouts of America and its cookie manufacturers Ferrero U.S.A. and Interbake Foods. The lawsuit is led by Amy Mayo out of New York State.

Specifically, the lawsuit calls out a 2024 study commissioned by Moms Across America and GMO Science, which tested the cookies for toxic metals and the herbicide glyphosate/AMPA. According to the findings, “100% of the samples were positive for glyphosate, 100% were positive for toxic metals, 22 out of 25 (88%) of samples were positive for all five toxic metals, 76% were positive for levels of cadmium that exceed EPA limits in water, and 24 out of 25 (96%) of samples were positive for lead.” 

In the lawsuit, Mayo says she would have either paid “substantially less” or not purchased the cookies at all had the organization disclosed the “dangerous toxins.”

However, it’s critical to note that this study was not peer-reviewed, nor was it published in a scientific or academic journal that will call for that kind of rigorous background. It also had a very small sample size, testing and purchasing only 25 cookies across three states: California, Iowa, and Louisiana. Furthermore, as USA Today pointed out, the study compared the levels of heavy metals and glyphosate to Environmental Protection Agency standards, rather than those set by the Food and Drug Administration. 

Still, it was enough to persuade a class-action suit. “While the entire sales practice system for Girl Scout Cookies is built on a foundation of ethics and teaching young girls sustainable business practices, defendants failed to uphold this standard themselves,” the lawsuit claims. 

The lawsuit seeks $5 million in damages to be paid to U.S. buyers and an injunction requiring Girl Scouts to add disclosures to its packaging. 

While Girl Scouts hasn’t commented on the lawsuit, it did reply to the study in a February blog post, noting, “The health and safety of Girl Scouts and cookie customers is our top priority. Rest assured: Girl Scout Cookies are safe to consume.” It added that its cookies are made with “ingredients that adhere to food safety standards set by the FDA and other relevant authorities.” It also added that these contaminants are often found in the environment, which “does not mean that these foods are harmful to consume.” 

“The Girl Scout Cookie Program is about more than a sweet treat. It teaches Girl Scouts to think critically, build confidence, and use the skills of entrepreneurship, leadership, and business ethics in the real world,” It added. “And remember: every purchase of Girl Scout Cookies powers life-changing experiences for Girl Scouts right in your local community. Visit girlscoutcookies.org to support a troop in your area.”