A WOMAN is slamming Girl Scouts with a multi-million lawsuit and is asking that the company label certain ingredients that its famous cookies contain.
Amy Mayo filed a class action lawsuit against the nonprofit organization, claiming that Girl Scout cookies contain several harmful ingredients.
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On Monday, the New York woman filed the case against Girl Scouts of America, cookie manufacturers Ferrero US, and Interbake Foods, also known as ABC Bakers.
The suit follows the release of a new study concluding that the cookies contained high levels of heavy metals, pesticides, and other dangerous substances.
Mayo cites the study commissioned by Moms Across America and GMO Science, which reportedly found that every cookie tested had aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury.
More than one dozen cookies also allegedly tested positive for the herbicide glyphosate.
Despite Moms Across America’s findings, the case wasn’t published in any scientific journal, was not peer-reviewed, and used a relatively small sample size.
The cookies were also measured against the Environmental Protection Agency’s safety limits standards, which differ from the Food and Drug Administration’s standards.
However, the findings have caused a major stir within the Girl Scouts community, with some parents saying they would have never bought the cookies had they known about the contaminants.
Moms Across America is demanding that Girl Scouts be more clear with what is actually in their cookies.
The organization wants the nonprofit to source non-GMO ingredients by 2026, inform their suppliers that they will only be sourcing wheat products not sprayed by glyphosate, and require batch testing for pesticides.
The moms also want seed oils in the cookies to be substituted for coconut oil, organs butter, or organic unscented tallow and begs that Girl Scouts promotes regenerative agriculture practices.
“Our kids deserve better and we must demand change! This is a chance for @girlscouts to lead the future of integrity in our food system,” Moms Across America wrote in an Instagram post.
Mayo’s class action lawsuit seeks $5 million in damages for US cookie buyers and requires the company to disclose the presence of metals on its packaging.
“While the entire sales practice system for Girl Scout Cookies is built on a foundation of ethics and teaching young girls sustainable business practices, defendants failed to uphold this standard themselves,” the lawsuit claimed.
GIRL SCOUTS RESPONDS
The company told The U.S. Sun that it cannot comment on current legal proceedings, but it did release a response on February 6 regarding the Moms of America’s study, assuring shoppers that the cookies are “safe to consume.”
“For over 100 years, Girl Scouts of the USA has been dedicated to building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place,” the company began its blog post.
“An important part of this mission is the iconic Girl Scout Cookie Program, which is the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world…The health and safety of Girl Scouts and cookie customers is our top priority.”
Girl Scouts of America’s Response
For over 100 years, Girl Scouts of the USA has been dedicated to building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. An important part of this mission is the iconic Girl Scout Cookie Program, which is the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world. The cookie program teaches valuable life skills like goal setting, decision making, people skills, money management, and business ethics ensuring that girls can become leaders in their communities.
The health and safety of Girl Scouts and cookie customers is our top priority. Rest assured: Girl Scout Cookies are safe to consume.
A recent report claimed that our Girl Scout Cookies contain certain levels of glyphosate and heavy metals. We want to address these allegations and share the facts:
Girl Scout Cookies are made with ingredients that adhere to food safety standards set by the FDA and other relevant authorities.
- Our trusted bakers remain committed to compliance with all food safety standards and regulations set forth by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other relevant health authorities.
- These standards ensure that food products are safe for consumption.
- As a result, Girl Scout Cookies are safe to consume and are manufactured in accordance with all food safety regulations.
To further put the coverage in proper context:
- Environmental contaminants—which can include heavy metals— can occur naturally in soil. 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.
- Glyphosate is widely used in agriculture in accordance with established EPA standards and is found nearly everywhere in the food chain. Trace amounts of glyphosate can be found in fresh fruits, vegetables, cereals, baked goods, and other food and beverage commodities.
- Similarly, small amounts of heavy metals can be found naturally in the environment, including in food products, due to air, water, and soil exposure.
- These metals are not added to our Girl Scout Cookies.
- While such occurrences are not unique to Girl Scout Cookies, our 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.
- Our bakers have confirmed that the levels reported do not pose a food safety concern to our customers.
The Girl Scout Cookie Program is about more than a sweet treat. It teaches Girl Scouts to think critically, build confidence, and use the skills of entrepreneurship, leadership, and business ethics in the real world. And remember: every purchase of Girl Scout Cookies powers life-changing experiences for Girl Scouts right in your local community. Visit girlscoutcookies.org to support a troop in your area.
Girl Scouts addressed every point made by Moms of America, noting that the cookies meet FDA standards, which ensure that the products are safe for consumption.
The company said extra metals and contaminants are not purposefully added to its products but are a consequence of using plant-based ingredients.
“Environmental contaminants—which can include heavy metals— can occur naturally in soil,” the company wrote.
“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.”
Girl Scouts ended its post by restating the importance of the cookie program to helping young women grow an entrepreneurial spirit and build confidence to use in the real world.
