On March 11, New York citizen Amy Mayo filed a federal lawsuit against the Girl Scouts of the USA, a 113-year-old nonprofit, and their cookie producers, Little Brownie Bakers and ABC Bakers. The lawsuit alleges that Girl Scout cookies contain heavy metals and the herbicide glyphosate. It demands five million dollars in damages and updated packaging that discloses the alleged contaminants.
Several organizations conducted a study, including Moms Across America and GMO Science, that examined 13 different types of cookies produced in Iowa, California, and Louisiana. Each of the 13 types of cookies tested showed the presence of heavy metals, including aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury, which can be harmful at high levels. The cookies also showed signs of glyphosate, a commonly used drying agent and weed killer regarded as dangerous for consumption.
While trace amounts of heavy metals and toxins are commonly found in many foods, they are dangerous to consume in large quantities. Heavy metals can have side effects when consumed in large amounts, including damage to the brain, lungs, kidneys, liver function, and blood composition. Some studies suggest that ingesting glyphosate may be linked to an elevated risk of kidney damage, neurotoxicity, and a toxic effect on neurotransmission.
However, consumers would need to consume large amounts of these toxic materials to see a significant effect. Researchers have found that Girl Scout cookies contain very small amounts of these toxins, making them essentially harmless, although researchers are still unsure of the long-term effects. The Girl Scouts of the USA defended against the allegations.
“The health and safety of Girl Scouts and cookie customers is our top priority,” said the Girl Scouts in a blog post. “Rest assured: Girl Scout Cookies are safe to consume.”
Rebekah Kapfer, a representative for the Girl Scouts of the USA, went further, stating that their cookies meet all health regulations.
“All Girl Scout Cookies are produced by our trusted, licensed bakers, who are leaders in their industry and adhere to rigorous food safety standards. [They] comply with regulations set forth by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, state, and other relevant health authorities. These standards ensure that products meet all legal and safety requirements for consumption,” Kapfer said.
Selling Girl Scout cookies is essential for providing funding for the organization’s operations. Former Girl Scout and Archie Williams senior Kaeley Sullivan feels selling cookies is an important part of Girl Scout culture and fundraising.
“I feel like heavy metals are an issue, but I also feel like Girl Scout cookies are a big way that the Girl Scout community fundraises, and that’s how they get a lot of their income to help support other [areas] that are in need of money,” Kaeley said.
Despite their potentially harmful contents, Archie Williams sophomore Daschle Briggs plans to continue buying Girl Scout cookies.
“I’ll keep eating Girl Scout cookies because I want to support Girl Scouts, and I like the Girl Scout cookies. There’s a lot of diverse flavors that taste really good, but I do feel kind of betrayed [after finding out about the presence of heavy metals and glyphosate],” Daschle said.
Experts say that a person would need to eat hundreds of boxes of cookies per day to be at risk of the side effects. Additionally, while the study showed contamination, it was only done within three states in the U.S., meaning other states’ cookies may not be at risk.
The Girl Scouts defended their cookies, explaining that many of the substances found in the cookies come from environmental exposure and that the production facilities aren’t at fault.
The lawsuit is still pending, and its effect on the Girl Scouts’ reputation remains unclear. According to the National Library of Medicine, levels of heavy metals will continue to rise throughout all foods, raising concerns about whether they’re safe to consume. This has sparked concern about the transparency of food ingredients and whether it’s acceptable to consume small amounts of heavy metals in foods.
