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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →A lawsuit alleges that Girl Scouts of the USA and cookie makers misled buyers about the safety of Girl Scout Cookies after commissioned testing reportedly detected glyphosate and metals. Those are plaintiffs’ claims—not a court finding or proof that cookies nationwide are contaminated. Experts cited by PolitiFact criticized the study’s size and methods, while Girl Scouts says its cookies are safe.
What does the lawsuit allege?
An amended complaint filed March 11, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York alleges deceptive marketing by Girl Scouts of the USA and cookie makers. It names varieties including Thin Mints and relies on commissioned testing described in the complaint. The allegations have not been established by a final court ruling. Read the amended complaint.
The complaint says 13 types of cookies were collected in California, Iowa, and Louisiana during 2024. It reports that 100% of tested samples were positive for glyphosate, 100% for toxic metals, 96% for lead, and 88% for all five metals tested: aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. These are figures as presented by the plaintiffs’ complaint about commissioned samples; they are not national prevalence rates or findings by a regulator.
Are Girl Scout Cookies “toxic” or unsafe to eat?
The cited evidence does not establish that Girl Scout Cookies sold nationwide are toxic or unsafe. The complaint’s results concern a limited set of commissioned samples, and testing for the presence of a substance does not by itself show that eating a cookie poses a health risk. The evidence summarized in the reporting does not establish a nationwide exposure level or a court’s conclusion about safety.
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Girl Scouts of the USA said on February 6, 2025: “Rest assured: Girl Scout Cookies are safe to consume.” The organization says its ingredients adhere to food-safety standards set by the FDA and other relevant authorities. This is the organization’s position, not an independent test result. Read Girl Scouts’ statement.
What experts said about the testing
PolitiFact reported that the commissioned study tested 25 samples from three states and had not been peer reviewed. Public-health and toxicology experts told the outlet the sample was too small to support conclusions about Girl Scout Cookies nationwide. The sample size and scope matter: results from a small set of samples cannot establish how common a substance is across all cookies, batches, or sales locations.
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PolitiFact also questioned a comparison in the study between cookie results and water standards. People generally consume water in much greater quantities and more consistently than cookies, so a water-limit comparison may not provide meaningful food-safety context. The outlet further reported that the study’s own heavy-metal data showed 19 samples with detectable amounts of all five elements, rather than the 22 stated in the study; the study’s founder attributed the discrepancy to human error. Read PolitiFact’s analysis.
What is known about the cases?
The available procedural sources do not establish the exact status of the litigation as of October 7, 2026. The docket history records the amended complaint, the voluntary dismissal of Amy Mayo’s claims, a later dismissal of Interbake Foods, and an August 14, 2025 order extending Girl Scouts’ and Ferrero’s response deadline to September 30, 2025. A separate tracker lists two Barbaro plaintiffs’ claims as remaining and a distinct Finkelstein case as pending, but its update date is unclear. Neither source is enough to confirm current status or a final outcome.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe docket history is available through Justia. The separate case tracker is published by Truth in Advertising.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should cookie buyers take from the allegations?
- The reported percentages describe commissioned testing cited in a plaintiffs’ complaint, not a representative survey of U.S. Girl Scout Cookies.
- Experts cited by PolitiFact criticized the study’s sample size and its comparison with water standards.
- Girl Scouts disputes the safety concern and says its ingredients meet applicable food-safety standards.
- The cited sources do not establish a final court ruling on the claims or the cases’ exact current procedural status.
A Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma volunteer resource also notes that metals can occur naturally in soil and plant-based foods, including organic foods, and argues that EPA water standards should not be treated as food-testing reference values. That is the council’s explanation, not an independent finding about the tested cookies. Read the council resource.
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