A recent study has revealed alarming findings: every single Girl Scout cookie tested contained at least four out of five heavy metals—aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. The most contaminated variety, Peanut Butter Patties®, exhibited mercury levels as low as 0.07 parts per billion (ppb) and lead levels as high as 42.5 ppb, with aluminum reaching an astonishing 27,500 ppb (27.5 ppm).
The source of this aluminum remains unclear, though non-organic peanut crops are known for their exposure to toxic agricultural chemicals. In the study, 88% of the tested samples (22 out of 25) contained all five toxic metals. Thin Mints registered the highest glyphosate levels, while Peanut Butter Patties had the highest concentrations of toxic metals.

Additionally, 76% of the cookies contained cadmium levels exceeding EPA limits for drinking water, and 96% contained lead. Given that there is no safe level of lead, and both cadmium and lead are linked to cancer and neurological disorders, these findings raise serious health concerns.
The Economics of Girl Scout Cookies
In 2020, the Girl Scouts reported $112 million in total revenue, a decrease from $122 million in 2019. This revenue came primarily from membership dues ($50 million), investment income and royalties ($28 million), and inventory sales ($17 million).
According to a Fox News report, Girl Scout cookie sales represent an $800 million annual market, with scouts selling over 200 million boxes each year. In 2021, total sales to chartered councils reached $10.1 million, though revenue declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Given the financial success of the organization, it is reasonable to ask: why not allocate resources to ensure higher-quality ingredients in their cookies?
The Historical Roots of Girl Scout Cookies
Since its founding in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low in Savannah, Georgia, the Girl Scouts have played a vital role in empowering young women. This movement began before women had the right to vote and has since evolved into an enduring symbol of female leadership and opportunity.
Girl Scout cookie sales originated in 1917 when a troop in Muskogee, Oklahoma, baked and sold homemade cookies to fund troop activities. By the 1930s, councils nationwide embraced this idea, and in 1936, commercial bakers were enlisted to meet growing demand.
Today, cookie sales serve as both a major fundraiser and an entrepreneurial learning experience for scouts, teaching them essential business skills.
However, in light of recent findings, a critical question arises: does the quality of these cookies align with the organization’s mission to nurture future leaders?
Regulatory Oversight and Consumer Protection
Ensuring food safety should be a top priority, yet governmental regulatory agencies have fallen short in protecting consumers—especially children—from harmful ingredients.
Increasingly, independent researchers and citizen scientists have taken it upon themselves to investigate food safety, uncovering contaminants in baby food, infant formula, school lunches, and other processed foods.
A glaring example of regulatory shortcomings is the case of the Impossible Burger®. Initially rejected by the FDA due to concerns over genetically engineered ingredients, it was later approved with minimal oversight, allowing the manufacturer to self-regulate its product.
Similarly, our research into Girl Scout cookies highlights the urgent need for independent scrutiny of food products aimed at children.
Are All Girl Scout Cookies the Same?
Not all Girl Scout cookies are made in the same facility. The two main manufacturers—ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers—produce cookies that can vary in name, ingredients, taste, and nutritional content. Consumers can even enter their zip code to determine which baker produced their local troop’s cookies.
Despite these variations, concerning ingredients remain a common thread. Previous investigations, such as Leah Segedie’s 2015 Mamavation report, have pointed out problematic components including high fructose corn syrup, GMO-derived sugar, artificial flavors, palm and soybean oils, and carrageenan—many of which are staples of the processed food industry and carry potential health risks.
Our research focuses on contaminants that are not intentionally added but rather enter the cookies through unsustainable farming practices or manufacturing processes.
In a study of 25 cookie samples from different regions across the U.S., we specifically examined glyphosate (a controversial herbicide) and heavy metals. The results were alarming and raise broader concerns about the safety of similar commercially produced cookies.
The Path Forward: Safer Cookies for Future Generations
The presence of toxic metals in Girl Scout cookies is not just a concern for young scouts—it affects public health at large. Identifying and eliminating contamination sources is essential for consumer safety. A shift toward organic ingredients could significantly reduce pesticide exposure, ensuring a cleaner and healthier product for all.
As an organization built on leadership, integrity, and empowerment, the Girl Scouts have the opportunity—and responsibility—to prioritize the well-being of their consumers. By improving ingredient quality and ensuring safer products, they can uphold their mission and continue empowering generations to come.
The findings below reflect levels of glyphosate and it’s toxic breakdown product, AMPA, from Louisiana, Iowa, and California:

Girl Scout Cookie Heavy Metal Test results

References: Ibid
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/girl-scout-cookies-what-to-know
https://www.charitywatch.org/charities/girl-scouts-of-the-usa-national-office
https://www.girlscouts.org/en/discover/about-us/history.html
https://www.momsacrossamerica.com/gluten_free_food_test_results
You never cited the source for the food testing data. The “momsacrossamerica” article didn’t provide that source.