The Girl Scout responded to the public blog claim, saying that the cookie is made from materials that comply with food safety standards set by the US Food and Drug Administration and other relevant authorities.
Explore5 Facts About Girl Scout Cookies
“The health and safety of Girl Scouts and Cookie customers is our number one priority,” the company wrote on its blog. “Don’t worry: Girl Scout Cookies are safe to consume.”
The case, filed Monday in federal court in New York, will discuss the effects of genetically modified products and pesticides in reference to a December 2024 report by GMoscience, a group founded in 2014 by doctors, scientists and others.
The report claims that the “very concerned” results came from the test of Girl Scout cookies for toxic metals and glyphosate.
In response, Girl Scouts said trace amounts are found in almost all foods containing plant-based ingredients, as heavy metals and other environmental pollutants can occur naturally in the soil. Glyphosate is widely used in agriculture under US Environmental Protection Agency standards, with traces that say “we can be found almost anywhere in the food chain” include fresh fruits and vegetables.
“This does not mean that these foods are harmful to consumption,” Girl Scouts said. “Our trustworthy 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.”
Glyphosate is an active ingredient in weed killer products such as Roundup and Center for Disease Control and Prevention Reports. The US Environmental Protection Agency concluded that glyphosate is unlikely to cause cancer in humans. Researchers at the University of Washington reported in 2019 that glyphosate exposure could increase the risk of some kind of cancer by up to 41%.
The lawsuit was initially filed by New York resident Amy Mayo, who voluntarily dismissed her claim the day after Barbaro and Korewa filed an amended complaint. Their lawyer, Blake Yagman, did not immediately respond to an investigation into the case.
According to the complaint, Barbaro and Cholewa’s civil claims could be worth more than $5 million. This is the minimum amount of a class action lawsuit proposed in federal court.
According to the lawsuit, $1 billion worth of Girl Scout cookies are sold nationwide each year. In normal years, Girl Scouts sell around 200 million boxes of cookies, NPR reported.
Girl Scout Cookies are usually sold between January and April as a way for members to raise funds for the council. The organization’s cookie program is the “world’s largest girl-led entrepreneurial program,” and teaches members valuable skills such as interacting with clients and creating budgets.
Girl Scouts have not yet responded to the complaint in court.
