GLP Spaces on X: Deadly Thin Mints? $5 million chemical tort scam targets Girl Scout cookies

Tired of chasing ambulances and suing chemical companies, tort lawyers have identified a new villain: the Girl Scouts. You may view them as a benevolent children’s group that teaches young women how to make their way in an increasingly complex world. And you’d be correct. But that hasn’t stopped activist plaintiffs from filing a class action suit against the organization for allegedly selling cookies tainted with heavy metals and a pesticide. The complaint–which concedes that the plaintiffs were not physically harmed by Girl Scout cookies–is a glaring example of activists denying science and needlessly frightening an already anxious public, especially parents concerned about their children’s health.

The scientific basis for the suit stems from a spurious laboratory analysis by the advocacy groups Moms Across America and GMOScience, which tested just 25 cookie samples from three states and found trace amounts of arsenic, cadmium, mercury and the weedkiller glyphosate. Critics, including an expert writing for the GLP, have debunked the panic, noting that the study’s small sample size and lack of peer review render its findings unreliable, at best.

Moreover, the Girl Scouts have emphasized their compliance with stringent federal regulations—which empower the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to recall products that pose a significant health risk. The FDA has not recalled any Girl Scout Cookies, further undermining the litigation’s already feeble foundation.

Heavy metals and glyphosate can be found in the environments where food crops grow—present in soil, water, and air—but their trace presence in food does not pose a health risk at the levels detected. By pursuing this lawsuit, the plaintiffs ignore robust evidence and regulatory oversight, opting instead to amplify fear through sensational claims.

Parents, already bombarded with fallacious health scares on social media, are left questioning the safety of a beloved treat that funds valuable programs for Girl Scouts. This fear-mongering not only undermines public trust in science but also risks overshadowing the cookies’ role in teaching entrepreneurship and leadership to young girls.

The lawsuit is yet another case of reckless activism needlessly scaring families and tarnishing the reputation of a wholesome institution.

Join GLP founder Jon Entine and longtime contributors Liza Dunn and Cameron English as they discuss the fabricated Girl Scout cookie scam. Follow this link or listen to the conversation below:

https://t.co/M67nJ2eRZX

— @camjenglish (@camjenglish) March 21, 2025

Dr. Liza Dunn is a medical toxicologist and the medical affairs lead at Bayer Crop Science. Follow her on X @DrLizaMD

Jon Entine, founder and executive director of the Genetic Literacy Project, is an Emmy-winning investigative TV News producer and author of seven books, including three on genetics. Please follow him on X at @JonEntine

Cameron J. English is the director of bio-sciences at the American Council on Science and Health. Visit his website and follow him on X @camjenglish