Jody Serrano
Editor in chiefEditor in Chief at Xataka On. Before joining Webedia, I was a tech reporter at Gizmodo and The Messenger. While I've covered all sorts of things related to technology, I'm specialized in writing about social media, Internet culture, Twitch, and streamers.
Girl Scout cookie season is undoubtedly one of the most wonderful times of the year. However, the 2025 season finds itself facing a cloud of scrutiny after a study and a proposed class action questioned whether Girl Scout cookies are safe to eat.
The lawsuit. Earlier this week, a New York resident Amy Mayo filed a proposed class action lawsuit against the Girl Scouts of America, the nonprofit behind the Girl Scouts, and the manufacturers that make its cookies. In the lawsuit, Mayo alleges that the popular cookies contain heavy metals and pesticides, both of which can harm human health and the environment.
Mayo is seeking $5 million in damages for cookie customers. She’s also seeking an injunction so that Girl Scouts can label the cookies to reflect that they include the alleged substances.
"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 states.
As evidence, the lawsuit cites a December 2024 study by GMO Science, which was commissioned by consumer groups and Moms Across America.
The study. The GMO Science study claims that all the cookies it tested contained at least four out of five heavy metals, including aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. It also alleges that all of the samples it tested contained glyphosate, a pesticide that is widely used to control broadleaf weeds and grasses. In conclusion, the organization called the results “extremely concerning.”
While this may seem alarming at first glance, the quality of the GMO Science study is questionable. First of all, the study analyzed 25 samples of Girl Scout cookies across three different regions in the U.S., which is a small sample size that might not reflect contamination levels nationwide.
Secondly, as USA Today points out, the GMO Science study was not published in a scientific journal and was not peer-reviewed. This means that there’s no guarantee it was held up to rigorous scientific standards or reviewed by other experts in the field.
The Girl Scouts respond. The Girl Scouts addressed the study in a blog post on Feb. 6. In the post, the organization reassured customers that its cookies were safe to consumer and did not pose a threat to their health. The nonprofit also specifically addressed GMO Science’s claims about metals and glyphosate
“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,” the Girl Scouts said.
As far as glyphosate, the nonprofit pointed out that the pesticide is widely used and can commonly be found in the food chain. Consequently, trace amounts of the substance can be found in fresh fruits, vegetables, cereals, and more.
The Joe Rogan effect. Concern over the safety of Girl Scout cookies has risen since GMO Science released its study. In late February, podcaster Joe Rogan, one of the most influential podcasts in the world, slammed the cookies on his show, calling them “toxic as fuck.”
The bottom line. The U.S. is a big place. It seems premature to condemn Girl Scout cookies as toxic when the study that claims they are hasn’t faced scientific rigor. As of today, the Food and Drug Administration hasn’t announced any recall of Girl Scout cookies.
Images | Garrett Ziegler | Upupa4me
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