Alleged Heavy Metals and Pesticides in Girl Scout Cookies Spark Lawsuit

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  • Corporate Lawsuits
Girl Scout Cookies Class Action

Plaintiffs say cookies are harmful, while the Girl Scouts claim all products meet safety standards.

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American households that regularly buy Girl Scout cookies have been shocked by a new Girl Scout cookie class action lawsuit filed in New York's Eastern District Court.

 

The civil action centers on alarming allegations that certain Girl Scout cookie products contain dangerous toxins and the pesticide glyphosate. 

 

Class action plaintiffs seek $5 million in damages and demand warning labels on cookie packaging to inform consumers about potential contaminants.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

Testing Results Reveal Concerning Contaminants in Girl Scout Cookies

In late 2024, GMO Science and Moms Across America (MAA)examined 25 cookie samples gathered from three different states—California, Iowa, and Louisiana—to ensure geographic diversity and rule out localized contamination issues.

 

Researchers tested for five heavy metals (aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury) and glyphosate, a widely used herbicide.

 

Alarming results 

Results from this analysis painted a troubling picture:

  • 100% of the tested cookies contained glyphosate.
  • 100% of samples tested positive for toxic metals.
  • 96% of samples contained lead.
  • 88% of samples tested positive for five other heavy metals.

 

Several products affected

Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies showed particularly high contamination levels, reportedly containing 334 times more glyphosate than levels commonly accepted by scientists. 

 

According to the lawsuit, 76% of all products tested positive for levels of cadmium that exceeded Environmental Protection Agency limits for water.

 

Other varieties with high contamination levels included Peanut Butter Patties, S'mores, Caramel deLites, and gluten-free Toffee-tastic cookies. 

 

MMA and GMO say they attempted to contact Girl Scouts about these findings before publishing their results, but received no response from the organization. 

 

Health Risks Associated With Heavy Metals and Glyphosate Exposure

The following contaminants allegedly found in Girl Scout cookies carry significant health concerns, particularly because these products are marketed toward and consumed by children. 

 

Lead metals

Lead poses the most serious concern. According to the CDC, there is no safe level of lead consumption, and even low-level exposure can cause behavioral issues, decreased cognitive performance, delayed puberty, and reduced postnatal growth, especially for children. 

 

Arsenic concerns

The Agency also reported that arsenic exposure in food leads to respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurological, and immunological effects, and also damages the central nervous system in children.

 

Other toxins 

Cadmium significantly decreases IQ, mercury exposure can damage neurological systems permanently, and aluminum causes developmental issues when found at elevated levels, according to evidence presented in this lawsuit.

 

Glyphosate 

Finally, researchers have linked glyphosate, the active ingredient in many weed killers, to endocrine disruption, digestive issues, and neurotoxicity. Many countries have banned this substance due to health concerns.

 

How Girl Scouts Responded to Cookie Contamination Claims

The GMO and MAA study went viral, prompting the Girl Scouts to publish an official response in February 2025, addressing the testing findings and defending their cookie products.

 

Official response 

According to a company blog post from February 6, the organization wrote: 

"The health and safety of Girl Scouts and cookie customers is our top priority," and "Rest assured: Girl Scout Cookies are safe to consume."

 

FDA adherence 

The Girl Scouts also firmly maintain that their cookies adhere to all food safety standards established by the Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and other relevant health authorities. 

 

Alternative perspectives 

Lawyers representing the organization further provided context for the contamination claims, saying:

  • Environmental contaminants, including heavy metals, occur naturally in soil.
  • Nearly all foods with plant-based ingredients may contain trace amounts of these substances.
  • Glyphosate is widely used in agriculture according to EPA standards.
  • Glyphosate appears "nearly everywhere in the food chain."
  • Heavy metals can naturally appear in the environment through exposure to air, water, and soil.

 

The Girl Scouts emphasized that "these metals are not added to our Girl Scout Cookies" and stated their "trusted baking partners continue to ensure the integrity of our recipes and the safety of all Girl Scout Cookie products in accordance with federal regulations and Global Food Safety Initiative standards."

 

However, class plaintiffs say the company's response did not propose additional testing to verify or refute the findings and that the Girl Scouts "doubles down on its prior statements" rather than addressing the testing results directly.

 

 

Girl Scout Cookies Legal Claims and Proceedings 

Girl Scouts of the USA, Ferrero, and ABC Bakers are the named defendants in this lawsuit, asserting several specific legal claims under NY state statutes and common law doctrines.

 

This case presents three leading causes of action:

  1. Violations of New York General Business Law § 349, which prohibits deceptive acts or practices in business.
  2. Violations of New York General Business Law § 350, which addresses false advertising.
  3. Unjust enrichment/quasi-contract claims against Ferrero and ABC Bakers.

 

The plaintiffs allege that the defendants committed deceptive acts by employing false, misleading, and deceptive representations or omissions about the presence of toxins in the cookies.

 

According to the lawsuit, information about contaminants was also exclusively within the defendants' control, making it impossible for consumers to know about these issues before the December 2024 testing.

 

Damages sought 

Class plaintiffs have asked the courts for several forms of relief:

  • $5 million in damages for the class
  • Warning labels added to cookie packaging
  • Certification as a class action
  • Actual damages
  • Statutory damages
  • Injunctions against unlawful and deceptive practices
  • Restitution for class members
  • Disgorgement of profits
  • Attorney's fees and costs

The case currently awaits class certification, a critical step in determining whether it should proceed as a collective action.

 

Named Defendants in the Girl Scout Cookie Litigation 

Girl Scout cookie production involves a complex relationship between the non-profit organization and commercial bakers, all of whom the lawsuit names as defendants.

 

The company licenses two primary bakers to produce their cookies: Ferrero U.S.A. (operating through its "Little Brownie Bakers" subdivision) and Interbake Foods (operating as ABC Bakers).

Today, the operation generates approximately $800 million in annual revenue, with approximately 200 million boxes sold yearly.

 

The lawsuit argues that with their extensive resources, the defendants could implement testing and quality control to prevent contamination. It also affirms congressional testimony stating that food processors can manufacture goods without lead contamination by properly sourcing raw materials.

 

What to Do If You Purchased Girl Scout Cookies

You have several options if you purchased Girl Scout cookies and are concerned about the contamination allegations.

 

Understand your potential class membership status

You might qualify as a class member if you purchased Girl Scout cookies during the relevant period (approximately 2023-2025) and the courts certify the action. 

 

Document your purchases

While waiting for the case to develop:

  • Save receipts if you have them.
  • Note which varieties you purchased.
  • Record approximately when and where you made purchases.
  • Keep any unopened packages.

 

Monitor case developments

Keep an eye out for updates on this case. As proceedings advance, the court may approve formal notices to potential class members with specific instructions.

 

The Girl Scout cookies lawsuit highlights tensions between public trust, food safety standards, and the commercial realities of mass-produced foods.

 

As this case proceeds through the legal system, it will test the boundaries of food manufacturers' obligations to disclose potential contaminants and may influence how other food producers approach quality control for products marketed to children.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Testing revealed five heavy metals (aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury) and the pesticide glyphosate in the samples. According to the lawsuit, 100% of tested cookies contained glyphosate, 96% contained lead, and 88% tested positive for all five heavy metals. Thin Mints showed particularly high glyphosate levels, 334 times more than commonly accepted standards.

New York residents Danielle Barbaro and Judy Cholewa filed the class action lawsuit on March 11, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. They seek $5 million in damages and warning labels on cookie packaging and are represented by attorneys Jeffrey K. Brown and Blake Hunter Yagman of Leeds Brown Law P.C.

The Girl Scouts published a blog post on February 6, 2025, stating their cookies are safe to consume and comply with all FDA and EPA standards. They attributed the presence of heavy metals to natural occurrence in soil and glyphosate to widespread agricultural use, emphasizing that "these metals are not added to our Girl Scout Cookies," and their bakers confirmed the levels "do not pose a food safety concern."

The contaminants pose several health concerns, especially for children. Lead exposure can cause permanent cognitive damage with no safe consumption level, arsenic affects multiple body systems, cadmium significantly decreases IQ, mercury causes neurological damage, and researchers have linked glyphosate to endocrine disruption, digestive issues, and reproductive problems

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