Girl Scout Cookies in Florida remain a popular annual treat that supports local troops, with all proceeds staying in communities to fund Girl Scout programs and activities. However, concerns have emerged following a study by Moms Across America and GMOScience that tested 25 cookie samples from California, Iowa, and Louisiana.
According to a USA TODAY report, the research revealed troubling levels of potentially harmful heavy metals in these widely consumed treats, though specific contamination measurements weren’t disclosed.
While the Florida cookies weren’t directly tested in this study, the findings may prompt questions among consumers of the beloved fundraiser products nationwide.
All the cookie samples contained at least four out of five toxic metals, including aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. Most of the tests showed that 22 out of 25 cookies—about 88%—had all five heavy metals.
Almost all the cookies (96%) tested positive for lead, and 76% had cadmium levels higher than what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends for safe drinking water.
In addition to heavy metals, the USA TODAY report shared that all the cookie samples were found to have high levels of glyphosate, a common herbicide used to kill weeds.
The groups involved in the study expressed serious concerns, stating, “The sale of cookies containing potentially toxic ingredients raises profound ethical and public health concerns.”
In response, the Girl Scouts stated that their cookies meet “all food safety standards and regulations set forth by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other relevant health authorities.”
They emphasized, “These standards ensure that food products are safe for consumption.”
It’s important to note that the FDA has established some recommended limits for lead in food, especially for babies and young children. For example, they recommend having no more than 10 parts per billion (ppb) of lead in baby food and no more than 20 ppb in dry infant cereals.
The study found that several Girl Scout cookie samples had lead levels that exceeded these recommendations.
While the Girl Scouts believe their cookies are safe, ongoing concerns about heavy metals in food continue to spark discussions about food safety and health.