Latest news with #GirlScoutCookies
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Top 10 best-selling cookies in America
Image credits: Getty Images If there's a sweet treat that is easy to make, convenient to carry and delicious to eat- it's a cookie. These store-bought delicacies come with a burst of flavours, and joy in every mouthful. The US specifically has a variety of cookies and biscuits ranging from chewy and soft to crisp and buttery. But which are the most popular cookies in the United States? Let's find out. Oreo Image credits: Getty Images Oreo, owned by Mondelez International, is the most popular and best-selling cookie in the United States. The iconic sandwich cookies and its multiple flavours are loved by many who either eat them alone or love to dunk them in milk. Chips Ahoy! Image credits: Getty Images Another top player in the cookie world is Chips Ahoy!, a brand owned by Nabisco, which offers tasty chocolate chip cookies. Keebler Image credits: Getty Images Popular for its Fudge Stripes and Chips Deluxe Cookies, Keebler, a brand owned by Ferrero Group, is another go-to choice in the United States. With its playful branding and diverse flavours, the cookies from Keebler are loved by many. Pepperidge Farm Image credits: Getty Images Pepperidge Farm cookies are ones that you are bound to have tried at least once. The brand's Milano and Sausalito cookies are some of the most popular ones, though it has many other options. Famous Amos Image credits: Getty Images The perfect bite-sized cookies in chocolate flavour are the Famous Amos, which are popular for their flavours and convenient packaging. Girl Scout Cookies Image credits: Getty Images Girl Scout Cookies are so popular that they are mentioned in books and shows, too. The brand is popular for supporting young girls through cookie sales and its flavours, such as Thin Mints and S'mores, are crowd favourites. Lenny & Larry's Image credits: X/@iheartpublix While most cookies target taste, Lenny & Larry's combine taste with health to create cookies that contain plant-based proteins. These are dairy-free, egg-free and perfect for health-conscious consumers. Entenmann's Image credits: Getty Images One of the oldest cookie brands in the list is Entenmann's, which began in 1898. The bakery brand sells a variety of baked treats, including cookies. Tate's Bake Shop Image credits: Getty Images For their simple ingredients and thin, crispy shape, the Tate's Bake Shop cookies offer buyers a homemade taste they can't help but want more of. Insomnia Cookies Image credits: Getty Images This chain of bakeries in the United States is popular for delivering warm cookies late at night. They are popular among young adults and students for the convenience and variety. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
The Guardian
05-04-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Girl Scout cookies contain heavy metals beyond safe limits, lawsuit alleges
Girl Scout cookies contain lead, arsenic, cadmium, aluminum and mercury at levels that often exceed regulators' recommended limits, as well as concerning amounts of a toxic herbicide, a new class action lawsuit alleges. The suit bases its allegations on a December 2024 study commissioned by the GMO Science and Moms Across America nonprofits that tested 25 cookies gathered from across several states, and found all contained at least four out of five of the heavy metals. Lead was found in all but one cookie, and all samples contained glyphosate, a highly toxic and controversial weed killer that is banned in many countries because it's so dangerous. Girl Scouts took aim at the study in a blog post. 'The health and safety of Girl Scouts and cookie customers is our top priority,' it stated. 'Rest assured: Girl Scout Cookies are safe to consume.' It added: 'Our trusted baking partners continue to ensure the integrity of our recipes and the safety of all Girl Scout Cookie products in accordance with federal regulations and Global Food Safety initiative standards.' However, the lawsuit states: 'While the entire sales practice system for Girl Scout Cookies is built on a foundation of ethics and teaching young girls sustainable business practices, defendants failed to uphold this standard themselves.' The lawsuit seeks $5m in damages and asks a New York state court to order Girl Scouts of America to affix a warning to the cookies. The heavy metals are especially dangerous for young children, and can cause brain damage and developmental issues. Glyphosate exposure in children is linked to liver inflammation and hormone disruption, among other issues. About 200m boxes of the cookies are sold annually. Thin mints showed the highest levels of glyphosate, and the Peanut Butter Patties, S'mores, Caramel deLites and gluten-free Toffee-tastic had the highest levels of toxic metals. Though the report compared its findings to the federal limits on metals in water, the US Food and Drug Administration typically limits the amount of lead in food to two parts per billion (ppb) to 10 ppb. All but three cookies exceed 2 ppb. The non-profit Girl Scouts said heavy metals occur naturally in soil, suggesting that its cookies contained 'trace amounts', which is common in food and not a safety issue. However, the levels found in most of the cookies are higher than what's considered trace amounts. It also stated that glyphosate is found 'nearly everywhere' in the food chain. Glyphosate is often in produce and processed foods, and the levels found in the cookies – with the exception of the Thin Mints – are lower than the EPA's recommended intake for an adult. But it is unclear what the impact on children might be. Organic produce and processed foods broadly contain no or much lower levels of glyphosate and other pesticides. The high levels of metal contamination are also not unique to Girl Scout cookies – cinnamon in Gerber baby food was found to contain lead and sued for violating California's Proposition 65 limits in 2021. Vineet Dubey, an attorney who sued Gerber but is not involved in the Girl Scout lawsuit, said the toxins likely stem from Gerber and Girl Scouts 'buying inexpensive ingredients and from places that are known to have problems with polluted soil, air and water'.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Is Glyphosate in Our Food Supply Causing Cancer? Here's What The Latest Science Says
Reviewed by Dietitian Maria Laura Haddad-Garcia"Key Takeaways" Glyphosate is a common herbicide used to kill weeds. While some research suggests it might increase cancer risk, more studies on humans are needed for us to know for sure. You can reduce your glyphosate exposure from eating produce by washing it and discarding the outer I'm a 16-year veteran health writer, friends often come to me asking about the latest health claims they've seen making waves on social media. With the 24-hour news cycle, it's easy for a single misinterpreted study or claim from a so-called 'health expert' to spread far and wide—and cast fear into the hearts of folks just trying to feed themselves and their families. One of the most common questions I've gotten recently has been whether glyphosate—the herbicide used on common food crops to kill weeds—causes cancer. And whether we need to clean out our pantries and refrigerators to remove foods that might be 'contaminated' by it. Spurred on by buzzy posts on social media, pals have been worriedly asking, 'Should I toss all my Cheerios?' 'Are Girl Scout Cookies safe to share with my kids?' 'Is my morning oatmeal milk killing me?' To help bring you the truth, the real truth and nothing but, I dove into the latest research and spoke with doctors and dietitians who are well-versed in the topic. Glyphosate is a herbicide that was registered for use in the U.S. in 1974. Common glyphosate brands include Roundup, AquaNeat, Eraser and Ranger Pro. This herbicide is typically applied to agricultural fields as well as residential lawns and gardens to kill weeds by blocking an enzyme essential for plant growth. Agriculturally, glyphosate is most often used to treat fields of corn and soybeans, but it's also sprayed on other crops like beans, legumes and grains, as well as certain fruits (sold whole and in juice form) and some other vegetables, too. So, how is it that glyphosate is able to kill just the weeds and not the whole plant? Genetic modification is to thank for that. 'Roundup-ready' crops, as they're referred to, are crops that have been genetically modified to be able to withstand treatment from glyphosate. Just 20 years after these GMO crops became available, farmers were using nearly 15 times as much of the herbicide globally. (In 1995, global agricultural use was 112.6 million pounds. By 2014, it was 1.65 billion pounds.) Today, glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides in the U.S. While it is used primarily on Roundup-ready soy and corn, non-GMO crops are sometimes sprayed with glyphosate, too—the most common being beans, corn, lentils, millet, peas, potatoes, oats, sugar beets and wheat. A spike that sudden—and a product so pervasive—might raise some red flags, but Jessica B. Steier, Dr.P.H., PMP, the founder and host of the Unbiased Science podcast, would like to set the record straight: 'The reality is that without glyphosate and other pesticides, our food supply would be decimated. We would see lower crop yields, more soil erosion from aggressive tilling, higher food prices and increased food insecurity,' she says. 'While it's always prudent to assess risks, it's equally important to recognize the benefits these tools provide in modern agriculture.' For decades, all pesticide use has been closely monitored and regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture to ensure food safety for all ages, says Tamika D. Sims, M.S., Ph.D., the Atlanta-based senior director of member and partner engagement for the International Food Information Council. Rest assured that folks are monitoring the situation. As far as those viral social media videos about Cheerios and cancer (you might recall that oats are among the crops sometimes treated with glyphosate), this is based on a tiny seed of truth. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as 'probably carcinogenic to humans,' placing it in the Group 2A category. 'This was based on 'limited' evidence of cancer in humans (from real-world exposures that actually occurred) and 'sufficient' evidence of cancer in experimental animals (from studies of 'pure' glyphosate),' the IARC explained at the time. For reference, substances or exposure circumstances under the Group 2A category, 'also includes red meat and working night shifts—meaning it's based on hazard (potential to cause harm under extreme exposure), not real-world risk,' Steier says. Basically, what this all means is that while some research shows that glyphosate might increase your cancer risk, more is needed in order for us to know for sure. In the last decade since IARC's declaration, 'many other agencies, including the European Food Safety Authority and the EPA, have concluded that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic risk to humans,' says Syeda Farid, M.S., RD, LDN, a registered dietitian and board-certified specialist in oncology nutrition at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital in Chicago. In fact, in 2020, the EPA concluded its regulatory review of glyphosate, stating that: 'there are no risks of concern to human health when glyphosate is used according to the label, and it is not a carcinogen.' Similar conclusions were reached by Health Canada in 2019 and reinforced by a 2023 EFSA fact sheet, Sims says. Some epidemiological studies, particularly in occupational settings, have suggested a potential association between long-term, high-dose glyphosate exposure (think: farm workers who are spraying Roundup on fields throughout the year) and a type of cancer called non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Steier says. However, 'these studies have limitations, including small sample sizes, recall bias and confounding factors (farmers and landscapers are exposed to multiple chemicals), and the largest and most robust studies have not confirmed a causal link,' Steier says. In other words, more research, especially higher-quality studies like randomized controlled trials with significant sample sizes, is needed to show if exposure to high doses of glyphosate can cause this type of cancer. In fact, a long-term study from the National Cancer Institute followed more than 50,000 licensed pesticide applicators and found no statistically significant link between glyphosate exposure and overall cancer risk. Simple steps like wearing gloves and masks while applying glyphosate can limit potential risk for these workers or those who provide lawn care services. 'For the general public, exposure comes mainly from consuming foods that were once treated with glyphosate,' Farid explains. (This includes corn, soybeans and oil seeds as well as some fruits and vegetables and grains, per the FDA.) 'Food only has trace residue of glyphosate, though, all of which is well below safety limits set by the EPA,' she says. Children tend to play more on grass and have more skin surface area relative to body weight, so they could potentially have a little more skin contact with glyphosate. Also, children tend to eat more processed carbohydrates, like cereal, which may have glyphosate residue, Farid says. Still, CDC guidelines confirm that the effects of glyphosate exposure are expected to be similar in adults and children, and the risk of toxicity for even small children is very low. Plus, any potential absorption through the skin is minimal (less than 2%), according to Farid, making direct skin contact a low-risk exposure route. But what about runoff from the treated fields? Glyphosate has been shown to be common in samples of streams and rivers, especially within proximity of fields. However, municipalities in America closely track levels and have systems in place to remove as much as possible before that H2O becomes drinking water. Glyphosate is rarely detected in drinking water, and when it is, the level is often well below safe limits. Many things can be toxic at extreme levels, even water. So let's put glyphosate exposure into perspective. 'About 20% to 30% of ingested glyphosate is absorbed into the bloodstream, while the rest passes through the gut unabsorbed and is eliminated in feces,' Farid explains. 'Glyphosate is water-soluble, excreted primarily in the urine, and is quickly cleared from the body.' She notes that it can be cleared as quickly as 48 hours after ingestion. Since urine is the primary way glyphosate leaves the body, urine concentrations of glyphosate are used as a biomarker for exposure. 'But detecting glyphosate in urine does not mean it's harmful,' Steier chimes in. 'It simply shows exposure, not toxicity. When someone consumes food treated with glyphosate, the vast majority passes through the body unchanged and is eliminated rapidly. Unlike persistent organic pollutants (like PFAS or heavy metals), glyphosate does not bioaccumulate, which significantly reduces the likelihood of long-term harm.' Pesticide residues on food are minimal, but advancements in testing technology allow even trace amounts to be detected. Knowledge is power, but detection alone does not mean food is unsafe, Sims notes. The potential harm of any substance depends on the amount consumed. The EPA sets several safety parameters, including: Reference Dose or Acceptable Daily Intake: A level considered safe for lifetime exposure without increased risk of adverse health effects. Steier says this 'includes a massive safety buffer,' meaning that using this as the maximum allows for plenty of wiggle room beyond that before something starts getting dangerous. Lethal Dose: A level that could be toxic and lead to death. The EPA has set a reference dose for glyphosate at 1.75 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day. The lethal dose is 4,900 mg per kg. Translating this into real-world terms, Farid adds that the effects of eating table salt would be fatal at lower levels than the toxic level of glyphosate consumption. 'If we're considering how much glyphosate-sprayed food someone would need to eat to increase their cancer risk, it's an unrealistic amount,' Steier says. 'The idea that small amounts of glyphosate in cereal pose a meaningful cancer risk is not supported by evidence. A person who weighs 150 pounds would need to eat 10 canisters of oats per day, every day, for the rest of their life to hit the risk threshold determined by the Environmental Working Group (a nonprofit that focuses on research, advocacy and promoting safer practices related to agriculture, environmental chemicals and drinking water). Or if we're using Cheerios as the reference point, the same individual must eat 82 boxes of cereal per day, every day, to exceed that level.' Nearly all of us are exposed to glyphosate in our food, and we've heard worrying and confusing chatter about this herbicide. Even the Girl Scouts of America had to take this matter to their blog to clear up confusion about glyphosate in their cookies—which drastically affected sales this year. But experts say there's no need to worry. 'Glyphosate is so ubiquitous that worrying about it won't really change anything. It is quite difficult to avoid glyphosate unless you grow your own produce and do not use any chemicals at all, which comes with its own challenges, like pests, weeds and decreased yield,' Farid says. If you'd like to limit your exposure to glyphosate, opt for certified organic foods, which are grown without the use of glyphosate. Organic crops may be subject to a small amount of 'drift,' or pesticide dust or droplet transfer, if grown in areas near glyphosate use, however. Organic or otherwise, you may be able to reduce your exposure to glyphosate in foods with the following strategies, courtesy of Oregon State University's National Pesticide Information Center. Keep in mind that scientists have yet to discover a strategy that completely removes residues, but the following should help slightly reduce the concentration. Wash all fruits and vegetables under running water for 30 seconds, gently scrubbing or rubbing the exterior, even if you're not planning to eat the skin. Do not use any bleach or soap products. Discard the exterior leaves of leafy produce, like cabbage, romaine or iceberg lettuce. Peeling produce can also help reduce glyphosate residue, but many nutrients, including fiber, are found there. As far as your yard goes, if you use a lawn care service or are considering what products to use on the grass in your yard or in your garden, seek out a weed killer made with vinegar (acetic acid), iron (FeHEDTA) or another natural active ingredient. Wear gloves, goggles and a mask if you do choose to apply glyphosate to your lawn. Keep in mind that 'if you're truly worried about cancer, the best things you can do are exercise regularly, eat balanced meals with lean protein and lots of fruits and veggies, avoid processed meats, maintain a healthy weight, drink lots of water, sleep well and limit alcohol and drugs,' Farid says. Glyphosate is essentially inescapable in modern society, true. That said, exposure to glyphosate residue in foods at levels any human could consume appears to be perfectly safe. There may be a slight increase in health risks for people who work with and near the herbicide daily, but more research is required to confirm any causal link. 'For the general public consuming trace amounts in food, the risk is negligible. The most comprehensive regulatory reviews—including those by the EPA and the WHO—conclude that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a cancer risk at real-world exposure levels,' Steier says. Steier warns that misinformation can quickly and easily distort public perception of food safety. The truth is that 'fear-based narratives around pesticides can lead to poor policy decisions, harming food security, increasing costs and making safe, affordable food less accessible,' Steier continues. It can be tempting to fixate on one specific risk factor, whether it's glyphosate, artificial sweeteners or seed oils. Yet, a healthy lifestyle is built upon a foundation of overall habits, not avoiding one particular thing. To reduce your risk for cancer and increase your health span in science-backed ways, eat a colorful, varied diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and legumes, avoid smoking and alcohol, move your body and prioritize sleep and stress-relieving activities. Read the original article on EATINGWELL
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
1.2 million Girl Scout Cookie packs arrive in state
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH) — It is officially Girl Scout Cookie season and volunteers are excited to help members of the community get their sweet treats. About 1.2 million packages of Girl Scout Cookies arrived in New Britain Saturday morning. Watch our coverage to find out more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What is Moms Across America? Group's report on Girl Scout cookies sparks lawsuit
"Making the invisible visible." That's the stated mission of two organizations behind a recent study claiming Girl Scout cookies contain toxic chemicals. In December, nonprofits Moms Across America and GMOScience published a study that found 100% of tested Girl Scout cookies contain "elevated levels" of aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, and that 13 types of cookies were positive for high levels of glyphosate, a herbicide used to kill weeds. The study, titled, "Danger in the Dough: Unveiling the Toxic Contaminants in Girl Scout Cookies," has received criticism, as it wasn't published by a scientific journal or peer reviewed. Experts say the study was also of a small sample size − only 25 cookies − and compared heavy metals and glyphosate levels to the Environmental Protection Agency's water safety limits, which aren't applicable for food. In a Feb. 6 blog post, Girl Scouts of America denounced the study's claims, reassuring customers that, "Girl Scout Cookies are safe to consume" and meet all regulations set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and EPA. Can you still eat Girl Scout cookies? Here's what to know about risks to consumers On March 10, a New York woman filed a federal lawsuit against Girl Scouts of America, claiming the organization, in addition to cookie manufacturers Ferrero U.S.A. and Interbake Foods are selling cookies that contain toxins. The woman has since dismissed herself, but New Yorkers Danielle Barbaro and Judy Cholewa have since taken over as plaintiffs. As the lawsuit unfolds, here's what to know about the organizations behind the Girl Scout cookie study. Lawsuit: Girl Scouts hit with suit over alleged heavy metals, toxins in its cookies The study was authored by Michelle Perro, CEO of GMOScience; Zen Honeycutt, founder and executive director of Moms Across America; and Stephanie Seneff, senior research scientist at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. The three women have a history of targeting GMOs, glyphosate and other toxic chemicals in foods: Perro describes herself as a veteran pediatrician with more than 40 years of experience in "acute and integrative medicine." She is the co-author of "What's Making our Children Sick?: How Industrial Food Is Causing an Epidemic of Chronic Illness and What Parents (and Doctors) Can Do About It." In addition to founding Moms Across America, Honeycutt authored a book recounting how her and her family transitioned to an all-organic diet in an effort to avoid GMOs, or genetically-modified organisms. And Seneff, who holds degrees in biophysics, electrical engineering and computer science, has been an MIT senior research scientist since 2010, she told USA TODAY. She also authored a book arguing that glyphosate is responsible for "debilitating chronic diseases, including autism, liver disease and more." Perro and Seneff both serve on Moms Across America's advisory board, according to the organization's website. Jessica Steier, CEO of Vital Statistics Consulting and founder of the podcast "Unbiased Science," has been familiar with Moms Across America for several years, first analyzing a study the organization conducted about glyphosate levels in Banza chickpea pasta in 2024. Vital Statistics Consulting is a data science consultancy that specializes in public health analytics. Steier told USA TODAY that she became familiar with the Girl Scout cookie study after concerned parents began reaching out with questions. "From my analysis, Moms Across America consistently presents data in ways that create maximum alarm by misrepresenting statistics, highlighting preliminary research without proper context and fundamentally misunderstanding a basic toxicology principle: the presence of a substance does not automatically indicate risk," Steier said in an email. "The dose makes the poison, and this nuance is consistently absent from their work." As an example, Steier spoke about the study's glyphosate level claims, which state that the levels in several of the cookies were "334 times higher" than what is harmful to consume. Steier said when analyzed, "the highest glyphosate level they found (111 parts per billion in Thin Mints) would require a child to consume over 9,000 cookies in a single day to approach even the most conservative safety thresholds." In response, Honeycutt told USA TODAY that consumers should be "alarmed." "We hope that rather than attack the messengers, they (Girl Scouts of America) chose to select better ingredients, empower their girls to learn new skills by baking their own organic cookies and be champions for regenerative organic farming." Established in 2013, Moms Across America is a nonprofit dedicated to advocating against GMOs, through the lens of empowering mothers. Genetically-modified organisms are plants, animals or microorganisms that have had their DNA changed, according to the FDA. Common ingredients that contain GMOs include cornstarch, corn syrup, corn oil, soybean oil, canola oil and granulated sugar, according to the FDA. Some fresh produce, like potatoes, apples and pink pineapples are also available in GMO varieties. The FDA says that GMOs are safe to eat, as they are tested by the FDA, EPA and U.S. Department of Agriculture before being put on the market. Honeycutt told USA TODAY that Moms Across America conducts studies and produces data that "shows that our food is contaminated." The group has previously come under fire for claims it made about other publicly-available food items, with some arguing their claims were misleading or lack context. On its website, the organization outlines anti-vaccination rhetoric and alternative medications like a "vaccine detox herbal extract." Honeycutt has been a vocal supporter of U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was a former adviser to the organization, according to the Moms Across America website. Kennedy's office did not respond for comment when contacted by USA TODAY. GMOScience, founded in 2014, describes itself as "a voice for independent science." The group generates articles, videos and podcasts largely in opposition to GMOs. Honeycutt and Seneff are both advisors of GMOScience, according to the organization's website. The Health Research Institute and New Jersey Laboratories sampled the Girl Scout cookies on behalf of Moms Across America and GMOScience. "Making the invisible visible," welcomes users on the Health Research Institute's website homepage. Based in Iowa, the Health Research Institute is a nonprofit that focuses on glyphosate testing, specifically in foods, founder John Fagan told USA TODAY. The institute, founded in 2015, employs five-full time scientists, he added. The Health Research Institute has worked with Moms Across America before. In 2022, Moms Across America released a study analyzing the amount of toxic chemicals found in school lunches, and the Health Research Institute conducted the research. According to the New Jersey Laboratories website, the lab was founded in 1936, at the time under the name New Jersey Dairy Laboratories. The lab specialized in dairy and food production testing. In the '70s, the lab became New Jersey Laboratories. New Jersey Laboratories tests products in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, dietary supplement, cosmetic, dairy and food industries, according to its website. New Jersey Laboratories Chief Commercial Office Rajul Vyas told USA TODAY that the laboratory is unable to discuss the details of the study due to a non-disclosure agreement with Moms Across America, which Honeycutt confirmed. Vyas said the lab signs NDAs with all of its clients. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Moms Across America: Group's Girl Scout cookies report sparked lawsuit
