Girl Scouts sued over alleged heavy metals, – Business News
The Girl Scouts have been sued by customers over the alleged presence of “heavy metals” and pesticides in its well-liked Thin Mints and different cookies.
A proposed class motion was filed on Monday evening within the Brooklyn, NY, federal court docket in opposition to the 113-year-old nonprofit and the cookies’ licensed producers, ABC Bakers and Ferrero USA’s Little Brownie Bakers.
It cited a December 2024 research commissioned by GMO Science and Moms Across America, which examined samples of 25 cookies from three states.
The Girl Scouts have been sued by customers over the alleged presence of “heavy metals” and pesticides in its cookies Stephen Yang
The research mentioned Girl Scout cookies contained at the least 4 of 5 heavy metals — aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury — that may hurt people’s health or the atmosphere, usually at ranges exceeding regulators’ advisable limits.
It additionally mentioned all samples contained glyphosate, a pesticide utilized in some weed killers, with Thin Mints containing the very best ranges.
“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 mentioned.
The defendants didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
Girl Scouts, short for Girl Scouts of the United States of America, addressed the research in a Feb. 6 weblog post.
A research mentioned Girl Scout cookies contained at the least 4 of 5 heavy metals – aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury – that may hurt people’s health or the atmosphere, usually at ranges exceeding regulators’ advisable limits.
It mentioned heavy metals happen naturally in soil, with hint quantities not a security difficulty, whereas glyphosate is discovered “nearly everywhere” within the food chain. Girl Scouts additionally mentioned its bakers are dedicated to complying with all food security requirements.
“The health and safety of Girl Scouts and cookie customers is our top priority,” the New York-based nonprofit mentioned. “Rest assured: Girl Scout Cookies are safe to consume.”
Cookies are bought by registered Girl Scouts from January to April, with web proceeds supporting councils and native troops.
The lawsuit is led by Amy Mayo, a resident of Bayside, NY.
The Girl Scouts mentioned heavy metals happen naturally in soil, with hint quantities not a security difficulty, whereas glyphosate is discovered “nearly everywhere” within the food chain.
Mayo mentioned she purchased quite a few Girl Scout merchandise corresponding to Adventurefuls, Peanut Butter Patties and Caramel deLites, believing they have been “quality and safe cookies.”
She mentioned she wouldn’t have purchased the cookies or “would have paid substantially less” had Girl Scouts disclosed the presence of “dangerous toxins.”
The lawsuit seeks at the least $5 million in damages for US cookie purchasers, for alleged violations of New York shopper safety legal guidelines.
Several chocolate makers together with Hershey confronted lawsuits after Consumer Reports in December 2022 discovered elevated ranges of cadmium, lead or each of their merchandise.
The case is Mayo v Girl Scouts of the United States of America et al, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 25-01367.
