With these days there being an eye of literally everyone on what they’re eating, it is hard to miss a case like this, especially when we’re talking about a brand like Girl Scouts of the USA. If you have little to no idea about what is so big of a matter with this Girl Scouts Cookies Lawsuit, then just keep on reading the details, and you’re bound to be baffled by the findings. Here we go.
When Did The Lawsuit Start?
The conflict started after a research paper was published in December 2024. Two organizations, Moms Across America and GMO Science, tested 25 varieties of Girl Scout cookies bought in different states of the U.S. and then made the results public.
March 2025 brought confirmation of the filing of a lawsuit. More specifics about the claims and compensation demands surfaced by April 5, 2025. As at July 12, 2025, the lawsuit was still active and going through the legal process.
This is therefore a recent matter, not an old one.
Who Filed The Lawsuit?
Amy Mayo is a woman from New York who has brought the case to a federal court in the Eastern District of New York.
The suit has been submitted as a class action lawsuit. So, she is representing not just herself, but the other people who have bought the cookies and might have been impacted.
What Does The Lawsuit Claim?
The principal allegation is that the cookies are contaminated with glyphosate and certain heavy metals.
The data from the testing of 25 different cookie varieties in December 2024, shows:
- Glyphosate was detected in every batch.
- Along with that, each batch also had at least four metals among aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead.
- Lead was present in virtually every batch.
- According to reports, the majority of the cookies contained lead levels greater than 2 parts per billion, which is the reference level used by the Food and Drug Administration.
- Thin Mints were said to have the highest levels of glyphosate.
The plaintiffs are essentially relying on these data for their lawsuit.
Why Is Glyphosate Being Discussed?
Glyphosate is a major component of most weed killers used in agriculture. Some organizations associate it with various health risks such as hormonal disturbances and cancers.
Nevertheless, most cookies had glyphosate levels that were said to be well below the allowable daily intake of an adult as per the Environmental Protection Agency.
Therefore, the main point is not only if there is glyphosate, but if the level is harmful or not.
What About Heavy Metals?
Lead and cadmium metals, when accumulated to high levels, can be very detrimental to the health of children.
Researchers compared their results with the drinking water standards of the Environmental Protection Agency. However, generally, food safety standards are under the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration, not water regulation.
There were also some criticisms raised about the study, such as it not being peer-reviewed and basing the conclusions on only 25 samples. Therefore, the controversy is mainly revolving around what is considered a safe level rather than whether there are trace amounts.
What Is The Lawsuit Asking For?
The individual who brought the matter to court wants a minimum of $5 million in damages.
They claim that the buyers acquired the cookies without knowing that there were such substances. In addition to monetary relief, the suit is also asking the judges to mandate that manufacturers put more explicit warning labels on the cookie packaging.
How Did Girl Scouts Of The USA Respond?
Girl Scouts of the USA rejected the accusations.
They mentioned that their cookies are safe and hold up to federal food safety standards. Besides, they clarified that trace metals might naturally come from soil and that these are not deliberately added.
The organization continued to say that glyphosate can be found in the food supply chain generally, and their products are in line with both U.S. and international standards.
