The USA Girl Scouts face a class-action lawsuit alleging that their most popular cookies carry excessive levels of heavy metal and pesticide residues. The lawsuit, filed by March 10, 2025, by resident Amy Mayo in New York, is seeking $5 million in damages and has made cookie makers Ferrero U.S.A. and ABC Bakers joint defendants. The lawsuit has made national headlines, with numerous people questioning food safety and consumer confidence.
The lawsuit is grounded in a 2024 study conducted by consumer advocacy groups GMO Science and Moms Across America. The study tested 25 boxes of Girl Scout cookies from California, Iowa, and Louisiana, and found that 100% of the samples contained at least four out of five heavy metals: aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. Additionally, traces of glyphosate, a widely used pesticide, were detected in all tested samples.
Among the products that were analyzed, Thin Mints had the highest level of glyphosate, with Peanut Butter Patties having excessive levels of lead and aluminum. The lawsuit accuses the Girl Scouts of deceiving consumers regarding safety and quality of their cookies, insisting that more specific labeling be done about the composition of these chemicals.
Despite the shocking findings, the study has been strongly criticized. The study is described by critics as non-peer-reviewed, and others argue that it is misleading in measuring food contamination against Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines for water safety.
Besides, most food scientists note that heavy metals naturally exist in soil and in very minute concentrations in most crops. The presence of such substances does not necessarily mean that the food is a serious health risk.
In response to the scandal, the USA Girl Scouts publicly stated on February 6, 2025, that their cookies were safe for consumption and were compliant with all food safety regulations. They explained that heavy metals naturally occur in soil and that glyphosate is found in most foods as it is heavily used in agricultural production.
These metals are not found in our Girl Scout Cookies, the message said. “All our products meet the strict safety standards set by the FDA and regulatory agencies.”
The lawsuit has ignited heated online discussions. Social media has been flooded with postings, with some asserting that the FDA pulled the cookies from the market, something that has since been debunked. A Forbes article clarified that the lawsuit is indeed made in comparison with EPA water standards and not with FDA food standards, with the additional note that there is currently no official evidence that the cookies are a health risk.
Surprisingly, after having first filed the lawsuit, Amy Mayo tried to dismiss her complaint. But more plaintiffs followed, and the lawsuit remains pending. Lawyers expect that the lawsuit can lead to more stringent labeling laws or increased transparency in food manufacturing.
Even assuming that the lawsuit is valid in food safety, critics note that it is short in scientific evidence in support of such allegations. While the legal battle is in process, consumers now need to decide whether they should be depending on food safety regulators’ assurances or the astonishing findings from outside studies.
