Cookie Controversy: Girl Scouts Sued Over Alleged Toxins

The Girl Scouts face a lawsuit over alleged heavy metals and pesticides in their cookies. A study found harmful substances, including glyphosate, in Girl Scout cookies. The lawsuit, filed by Amy Mayo, seeks over $5 million in damages, alleging consumer protection violations. The Girl Scouts assure product safety.

The Girl Scouts of the United States of America are facing a legal battle following allegations of heavy metals and pesticides in their widely beloved cookies, including Thin Mints. A class-action lawsuit has been filed in Brooklyn, citing a 2024 study that reported hazardous elements in the cookies, including aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and glyphosate.

The lawsuit, spearheaded by New York resident Amy Mayo, accuses the 113-year-old nonprofit and its cookie manufacturers of failing to disclose these hazardous components. Mayo claims she would have refrained from purchasing or would have paid less for the treats if the presence of such toxins had been acknowledged.

In response, the Girl Scouts defended their products, emphasizing compliance with safety standards. They assured the public that trace metals occur naturally in soil and glyphosate is ubiquitous in the food chain. The case seeks over $5 million in damages for violating consumer protection laws.

(With inputs from agencies.)