Heavy Metals and Pesticides Found in Girl Scout Cookies

Girl Scout cookies are a sweet American tradition, but a recent lawsuit has put them in the spotlight for reasons beyond their deliciousness. Filed by a New York resident and other consumers, a recent class-action lawsuit against the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, claims that some of these beloved treats contain heavy metals and pesticides.

The Allegations

The lawsuit is based on a December 2024 study done by GMO Science and Moms Across America which tested 25 different cookies sold in three states. This study found that every cookie tested contained glyphosate (a commonly used pesticide), and other cookies had at least four heavy metals present including aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. The beloved Thin Mints, for example, allegedly had 334 times more glyphosate than recommended, and 19 cookie flavors exceeded the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) cadmium limits. That statistic is not so sweet.

“The reason is pretty simple: Their suppliers are buying inexpensive ingredients from places that are known to have problems with polluted soil, air and water.” says consumer environmental attorney Vineet Dubey of CD Law. “Overall, this is a scary study and the Girl Scouts should take a very hard look at where they are sourcing their cookies, and expect more from their suppliers. The levels of heavy metals and glyphosate in the samples indicate that the primary producers of these cookies are using contaminated ingredients.” Click HERE to visit our Instagram page to hear more from Vineet.

Should You Skip the Cookies This Year?

Before you swear off your annual cookie haul and ignore the sweet little cookie sellers outside your local grocery store, it is important to note that just because heavy metals are present doesn’t automatically mean these cookies pose an immediate health risk. Many of these metals are naturally occurring in soil and water, meaning they can show up in our food, but their risk is based on the concentration found in the product.

The Girl Scouts of America, which sells about 200 million boxes of cookies each year (yes, you read that right!), has reassured their loyal customers that safety is their top priority, and that their cookies are perfectly safe to eat. They have yet to comment on the lawsuit, but responded to the study back in February emphasizing that their cookies meet all food safety standards. They shared that the presence of heavy metals is due to naturally occurring processes, and the widely used pesticide glyphosate can be found nearly everywhere in our food chain.

“It feels like they’re dodging the point — how can they be sure that the one batch is isolated? It’s very hard for the Girl Scouts to claim that with any certainty,” Vineet told USA Today. “The fact that any batch was sold containing this many contaminants shows they don’t know what’s in their cookies, which is worrisome. Young children are especially vulnerable to lead, for instance. GSA should be concerned about the presence of any contaminants, and test multiple batches, nationwide, as part of their production process going forward. Consumers trust the Girl Scouts to do the right thing and I hope they do.”

Still, this doesn’t mean you should toss out all your Girl Scout cookies this year. Looking at the cookies with the most worrisome amounts of contaminants, “You should probably toss the Toffee-tastics, S’mores, Peanut Butter Patties and Caramel deLites. Personally, I love Thin Mints, so while this is concerning, I’ll continue enjoying them in moderation!”