For generations, Girl Scout cookies have been a beloved seasonal treat, eagerly anticipated by families across the United States. From Thin Mints to Tagalongs, these cookies have become more than just a snack — they are a fundraising tradition that supports leadership programs for young girls.
However, a recent lawsuit has cast a shadow over the iconic brand, raising concerns about what might be lurking in those colorful boxes.
On March 10, a federal district court in New York received a lawsuit filed against the Girl Scouts of America. The legal action accuses the organization’s cookies of containing harmful pesticides and heavy metals such as aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury.
According to the court documents, these contaminants were allegedly found in cookies produced by ABC Bakers and Ferrero USA’s Little Brownie Bakers, the two licensed manufacturers responsible for making and distributing Girl Scout cookies nationwide.
Amy Mayo, the consumer behind the lawsuit, claims she would have either refrained from purchasing Girl Scout cookies altogether or bought them only at lower prices had she known about the alleged presence of these toxins. In the court filings, Mayo asserts that she was misled about the safety and purity of the products.
What Does the Lawsuit Say About Heavy Metals and Pesticides in Girl Scout Cookies?
The lawsuit relies on evidence from a study commissioned by advocacy groups Moms Across America and GMO Science. This study tested Girl Scout cookie samples for glyphosate, a common herbicide, as well as for five heavy metals: aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury.
While the findings have certainly made headlines, it is important to note that the study was neither peer-reviewed nor published in a scientific journal, which would have subjected it to expert scrutiny before public release.
The study analyzed 25 cookie samples purchased from retail outlets in California, Iowa, and Louisiana. The results revealed that every single sample contained detectable levels of glyphosate along with at least one heavy metal. Furthermore, 88 percent of the tested samples reportedly contained all five metals.
According to the study, the concentrations of these metals sometimes exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) limits for drinking water.
However, it’s critical to understand that the agency responsible for food safety, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), does not set official limits for these metals in baked goods like cookies. This regulatory gap has fueled public concern but also underscores the complexity of comparing safety thresholds for water with those for solid foods.
The levels of metals detected varied between cookie varieties. Thin Mints, one of the best-known and top-selling Girl Scout cookies, tested positive for all five metals. One sample reportedly contained:
- 3.85 parts per billion (ppb) of arsenic
- 14.7 ppb of cadmium
- 6.18 ppb of lead
- 0.32 ppb of mercury
- 15.1 ppb of aluminum
Other cookie varieties revealed even higher amounts of specific metals. Toffee Tastic Gluten Free cookies had the highest arsenic content at 33.3 ppb. Peanut Butter Patties showed the highest levels of cadmium (42.5 ppb), lead (23.3 ppb), and aluminum (27.5 ppb). Meanwhile, Caramel Delites contained the highest mercury level, measured at 21.9 ppb.
Should Consumers Be Concerned About Eating Girl Scout Cookies?
The presence of heavy metals and pesticides in food products understandably raises alarm, but experts emphasize that the actual health risks posed by the detected levels are minimal. Jaymie Meliker, PhD, a professor of public health at Stony Brook University in New York, who was neither involved in the lawsuit nor the commissioned study, believes the findings are not cause for immediate concern.
“I would not be worried at all,” Dr. Meliker stated. “We regularly eat Girl Scout cookies in our house as part of our diverse diet.”
Dr. Meliker’s perspective reflects a broader understanding within the food safety community: trace amounts of heavy metals are naturally present in soil and, by extension, in plant-based ingredients used in processed foods. This fact was acknowledged by the Girl Scouts organization itself in a blog post dated February 6.
“Environmental contaminants — which can include heavy metals — can occur naturally in soil,” the Girl Scouts noted in the post. “This means that nearly all foods using plant-based ingredients, including organic foods, may contain trace amounts. This does not mean that these foods are harmful to consume.”
How Much Would You Need to Eat to Be at Risk?
One of the central issues at play is whether the levels detected in the cookies are high enough to pose a health threat. According to experts, the answer is a resounding no — unless consumed in extreme, unrealistic quantities.
“It’s hard to say exactly how many cookies you would need to eat to be exposed to enough metals or pesticides to have health problems, but it’s definitely ‘an obscene amount,’” said Toby Amidor, RD, a registered dietitian and the author of The Family Immunity Cookbook. Amidor, like Dr. Meliker, was not involved in the lawsuit or the advocacy group’s study.
“No one should be eating one or several boxes of cookies to begin with,” Amidor added.
“Cookies are a special treat, not a food that should be consumed in large amounts.”
Meliker echoed this sentiment, estimating that it might take thousands of cookies — or hundreds of boxes consumed daily — to accumulate enough of these metals or pesticides to trigger health complications.
“Clearly there would be acute effects from other things first if someone ate this many cookies,” Dr. Meliker observed.
A Larger Conversation About Food Safety
While this lawsuit has sparked debate about contaminants in popular snack foods, it also raises broader questions about food regulation and consumer expectations. Should agencies like the FDA establish stricter contaminant limits for processed foods? How should consumers balance awareness of potential toxins with practical dietary habits?
For now, the Girl Scouts maintain that their cookies are safe and produced in full compliance with existing food safety standards. The legal process will ultimately determine whether the claims in the lawsuit hold up under judicial scrutiny, but for most people, experts agree there’s no need to clear out the cookie cupboard just yet.