A proposed class action lawsuit has been filed in federal court in Brooklyn alleging that popular Girl Scout cookies, including Thin Mints, contain potentially harmful levels of heavy metals and pesticide residue. The litigation targets the Girl Scouts organization along with their manufacturing partners ABC Bakers and Ferrero USA’s Little Brownie Bakers.

According to court documents, the legal claim centers on independent laboratory testing conducted in December 2024 that analyzed cookie samples across three states. The testing allegedly revealed trace amounts of arsenic, lead, cadmium, and glyphosate (a widely-used herbicide) at concentrations reportedly exceeding established safety thresholds for consumer food products.

The plaintiffs’ central allegation focuses on inadequate ingredient disclosure and consumer deception, arguing that the Girl Scouts organization failed to properly inform purchasers about these substances. In response, the organization has issued a statement asserting that the detected levels represent naturally occurring elements found in soil that appear in many food products and do not constitute a legitimate safety concern.

The federal lawsuit seeks minimum damages of $5 million and injunctive relief requiring improved product labeling. This case highlights ongoing legal questions surrounding food safety standards, disclosure requirements, and the testing methodologies used to determine acceptable contaminant thresholds in consumer products.