A New York woman has filed a lawsuit against the Girl Scouts of America claiming their cookies contain heavy metals and toxins, according to USA Today. Amy Mayo's proposed class-action lawsuit also names cookie manufacturers Ferrero U.S.A. and Interbake Foods, operating as ABC Bakers, as defendants.
The legal action stems from a study commissioned by Moms Across America and GMO Science that found all tested cookies contained aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. The study also claimed that 13 cookies tested positive for high levels of glyphosate, an herbicide commonly used to kill weeds.
However, USA Today points out that this study wasn't published in a scientific journal or peer-reviewed, and it used a small sample size. The study also compared heavy metals and glyphosate levels to Environmental Protection Agency water safety limits rather than Food and Drug Administration food safety standards, which would be more applicable.
The lawsuit gained significant attention after popular podcaster Joe Rogan discussed the study's findings, causing the claims to spread widely on social media platforms. Mayo's lawsuit seeks $5 million in damages for U.S. buyers of Girl Scout Cookies and demands that packaging be updated to disclose the presence of these substances. The Girl Scouts organization defended their products in a blog post, stating that "Girl Scout Cookies are safe to consume" and conform to food safety standards set by regulatory agencies.
The lawsuit alleges violations of consumer protection laws, claiming that Forbes' reporting indicates the cookies are "contaminated with dangerous heavy metals" and pesticides. While the legal action doesn't claim anyone was sickened by the cookies, it cites the Dec. 2024 study that tested samples of 25 cookies from three states.
This lawsuit comes amid broader concerns about food additives, as CNN reports that US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy has begun the process of eliminating a controversial FDA program called GRAS, or "generally recognized as safe."
According to CNN's coverage, this program has been criticized for allowing food manufacturers to introduce untested additives into the food supply without FDA oversight. Kennedy met with CEOs from major food companies including Kraft Heinz, General Mills, Tyson Foods, Kellogg's, Smuckers and Pepsi to discuss reform. The GRAS program was originally created to apply narrowly to commonly used ingredients like garlic, oil, vinegar and baking soda, but CNN explains that in 1997, an overwhelmed FDA made the program voluntary.
Since then, food manufacturers have introduced numerous untested additives, some of which were later found to be harmful. For example, CNN cites a Federal Register’s report stating that brominated vegetable oil, BVO, used in citrus sodas and sports drinks, was declared no longer GRAS in 1970 but wasn't officially banned from the US food supply until July 2024.
Sources:
https://www.momsacrossamerica.com/danger_in_the_dough
https://gmoscience.org/2024/12/27/danger-in-the-dough/
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21
https://blog.girlscouts.org/2025/02/an-important-update-for-our-members-and.html
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/03/11/health/gras-reform-kennedy-wellness
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