Photo credit: www.foodandwine.com

Girl Scouts of America Faces Lawsuit Over Cookie Contaminants

Girl Scouts of America is currently confronting a proposed class-action lawsuit that alleges the presence of heavy metals and pesticides in its cookies.

According to Reuters, the lawsuit was initiated in federal court on Monday, with Amy Mayo from New York State leading the claims against the organization and its cookie manufacturers, Ferrero U.S.A. and Interbake Foods.

The legal complaint references a 2024 study undertaken by Moms Across America and GMO Science. This research examined the cookies for toxic substances, including heavy metals and the herbicide glyphosate. Remarkably, the study’s findings indicated that every sample tested contained glyphosate. Additionally, all samples tested positive for toxic metals, with 88% of samples showing positive results for five specific heavy metals, and 76% exceeding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) limits for cadmium in water. Furthermore, 96% of samples were positive for lead.

In her lawsuit, Mayo asserts that had the Girl Scouts disclosed the risks associated with the alleged toxins, she would have either refrained from buying the cookies or paid significantly less for them.

However, it is important to highlight that this study has not undergone peer review and has not been published in a scientific journal, which typically requires thorough examination. The sample size was also limited, including only 25 cookie samples collected from three states: California, Iowa, and Louisiana. As noted by USA Today, the study compared the detected levels of heavy metals and glyphosate against EPA benchmarks rather than those established by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Despite these caveats, the findings have catalyzed enough concern to warrant a class-action lawsuit. The complaint states, “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 is demanding $5 million in damages to be distributed among U.S. buyers and an injunction requiring the Girl Scouts to include disclosures about these potential hazards on their packaging.

Although the Girl Scouts have yet to officially respond to the lawsuit, they addressed the study in a blog post published in February. The organization emphasized that “the health and safety of Girl Scouts and cookie customers is our top priority” and reassured the public that their cookies comply with food safety standards established by the FDA and other relevant entities. They also pointed out that these environmental contaminants are commonly found in various food products, which does not inherently render them unsafe for consumption.

Furthermore, the Girl Scouts highlighted that the Cookie Program serves as a valuable educational platform for members, imparting skills in critical thinking, confidence building, and ethical business practices. They encourage consumers to remember that each cookie purchase supports essential community programs and initiatives associated with local troops, urging those interested to visit girlscoutcookies.org to contribute.

Source
www.foodandwine.com