Latest news with #PeanutButterPatties
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Study reveals disturbing truth about beloved childhood cookies — here's what you need to know
A recent study discovered heavy metals and glyphosate in Girl Scout cookies, creating controversy about the popular snacks. Two organizations –– GMOScience and Moms Across America –– commissioned the study, but its credibility has been questioned. According to Forbes, the research was not peer-reviewed or published in a scientific journal, and it included a small sample size. Now, questions exist about the reliability of the study and the safety of the cookies. GMOScience and Moms Across America found 100% of the 25 cookies they tested contained heavy metals and glyphosate, an herbicide; 22 of the 25 cookies, nearly 90%, contained all five heavy metals, including aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. The organizations claimed Peanut Butter Patties were the most contaminated cookies. These cookies had the highest amount of heavy metals, while Thin Mints had the most glyphosate. While GMOScience and Moms Across America argue Girl Scout cookies are dangerous, the contaminants in them do not exceed FDA regulations, according to Forbes. Forbes also states there is no recall on Girl Scout cookies, despite rumors of one circulating on social media. Girl Scouts of the USA issued a statement in response to the GMOScience and Moms Across America study, stating its cookies "are safe to consume" and "adhere to food safety standards." The organization complies with FDA and EPA regulations, it said in the statement, and does not add heavy metals or glyphosate to its cookies. Any contaminants in its cookies appear through environmental and agricultural processes, the statement concluded. The contaminants GMOScience and Moms Across America discovered in Girl Scout cookies might not exceed standards, but their presence could still be cause for concern. Like Girl Scouts shared, contaminants can enter food through environmental and agricultural processes, but that does not necessarily mean they are "natural." Heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury can exist in soil, water, and air where food is grown, according to the FDA, and dark chocolate in particular has been a focus for lead and cadmium in recent years as a result of this. Separately, chemicals in a Tennessee wastewater treatment plant's sludge leached into the area's farms, for example, contaminating crops. The FDA also warns industry and pollution increase the presence of contaminants. Contamination has negative consequences for the environment and human health. Heavy metals that result from industry and pollution can cause "minor gastric problems" to "major health fatalities," according to a study published in Frontiers. Another study found pesticides responsible for immune, nervous, and reproductive system harm present in baby food. We can reduce contaminants in food by limiting pollution, primarily through regulations and swapping polluting sources with cleaner ones — such as replacing coal power plants with solar and wind power, as coal has been linked with heavy metals in soil. Regenerative agriculture is an alternative to industrial agriculture that restores soil and ecosystem health. Other agricultural practices eliminate reliance on herbicides and pesticides by implementing natural or innovative forms of pest control. Do you worry about how much food you throw away? Definitely Sometimes Not really Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Alternatives to industrial agriculture improve not only the environment but also human health. None of the organic baby food in that study contained the harmful pesticides their conventional counterparts did, and sustainable agriculture addresses the health of the planet and people, according to another study. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Girl Scouts Accused Of Selling Cookies With Pesticides - This Flavor Has The Highest Levels
Girl scout cookies are a beloved treat that most people can feel good about buying, however, a new lawsuit is alleging that they aren't as wholesome as you might hope. Filed in Brooklyn, the suit is a class-action lawsuit representing consumers of Girl Scout Cookies being led by a Bayside, Brooklyn resident, which alleges that the cookies contain heavy metals and pesticides. The lawsuit is being brought against both the Girl Scouts and the makers of the cookies, ABC Bakers and Ferrero USA's Little Brownie Bakers. The accusation in the suit is based on a report released in December of 2024 from the organizations GMO Science and Moms Across America, which alleged to have found toxic metals and other chemicals in Girl Scout Cookies. The study is particularly concerned with glyphosate, an herbicide that is widely used in U.S. agriculture. And while glyphosate was found in all of the tested cookies, the highest levels were found in the Girl Scout's Thin Mints. While the report alleges that elevated levels of glyphosate can cause a host of problems including cancer, miscarriages, neurotoxicity, and autism, EPA standards consider that a GMO myth, with its current use deemed safe for consumption and without any scientific evidence supporting the claims against it. The Girl Scouts have released a statement rebutting the claims made by the study, saying that all of its cookies are made in compliance with food safety standards from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Read more: Where To Buy Dubai Chocolate In The US, And How Much It Costs While the report from GMO Science and Moms Across America says that Thin Mints had the highest levels of glyphosate, it named Peanut Butter Patties as the most contaminated with elevated levels of lead and aluminum. The testing supposedly showed that 100% of cookies were positive for toxic metals and 88% were positive for all five of the metals that it tested for: aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. The report claims that 76% of the cookies had levels of cadmium above what the EPA recommends for drinking water, and 96% of the cookies contained lead. The EPA does not legally set an acceptable level of lead in food, except in candy aimed at children, which had a recommended level of 100 parts per billion, which is about twice as high as the levels found in the Peanut Butter Patties. However, debate is ongoing as to whether lead in food should be subject to stricter standards in the future. The Girl Scout organization's response to the allegations points out that these metals are all naturally occurring in soil, which means that any foods that use plant-based ingredients will contain them, and that the levels found in its cookies are considered safe. It also points out that glyphosate is widely used and present almost everywhere in the food chain. As for whether the alleged elevated levels found by GMO Science and Moms Across America constitute a real health risk, that will be up to the courts to decide. Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Reuters
11-03-2025
- Health
- Reuters
Girl Scouts sued over alleged heavy metals, pesticides in cookies
NEW YORK, March 11 (Reuters) - The Girl Scouts have been sued by consumers over the alleged presence of "heavy metals" and pesticides in its popular Thin Mints and other cookies. A proposed class action was filed on Monday night in the Brooklyn, New York federal court against the 113-year-old nonprofit and the cookies' licensed producers, ABC Bakers and Ferrero USA's Little Brownie Bakers. It cited a December 2024 study, opens new tab commissioned by GMO Science and Moms Across America, which tested samples of 25 cookies from three U.S. states. The study said Girl Scout cookies contained at least four of five heavy metals - aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury - that can harm people's health or the environment, often at levels exceeding regulators' recommended limits. It also said all samples contained glyphosate, opens new tab, a pesticide used in some weed killers, with Thin Mints containing the highest levels. "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 said. The defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Girl Scouts, short for Girl Scouts of the United States of America, addressed the study in a February 6 blog post, opens new tab. It said heavy metals occur naturally in soil, with trace amounts not a safety issue, while glyphosate is found "nearly everywhere" in the food chain. Girl Scouts also said its bakers are committed to complying with all food safety standards. "The health and safety of Girl Scouts and cookie customers is our top priority," the New York-based nonprofit said. "Rest assured: Girl Scout Cookies are safe to consume." Cookies are sold by registered Girl Scouts from January to April, with net proceeds supporting, opens new tab councils and local troops. The lawsuit is led by Amy Mayo, a resident of Bayside, New York. Mayo said she bought numerous Girl Scout products such as Adventurefuls, Peanut Butter Patties and Caramel deLites, believing they were "quality and safe cookies." She said she would not have bought the cookies or "would have paid substantially less" had Girl Scouts disclosed the presence of "dangerous toxins." The lawsuit seeks at least $5 million in damages for U.S. cookie purchasers, for alleged violations of New York consumer protection laws. Several chocolate makers including Hershey (HSY.N), opens new tab faced lawsuits after Consumer Reports in December 2022 found elevated levels of cadmium, lead or both in their products. The case is Mayo v Girl Scouts of the United States of America et al, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 25-01367.
Axios
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Samoas edge out Thin Mints in close Girl Scout cookie poll
Axios Chicago readers have spoken and the Samoa, also known as Caramel deLites in some regions, is your favorite Girl Scout cookie. By the numbers: Neraly 900 of you voted and Samoas beat Thin Mints by a sliver of coconut. 31% for Samoas and 30% for Thin Mints. Toffee-Tastics were at the bottom with just 2% of the vote. Fun facts: Girl Scouts have sold about 1 million boxes of Thin Mints so far this year in Chicago and Northwest Indiana. This is the last year for S'mores. There will be a new cookie next year. The intrigue: The Girl Scouts use two different bakers for their cookies which is why some of the names vary by region (and actually taste a little different). Samoas vs. Caramel deLites Tagalongs vs. Peanut Butter Patties Do-si-dos vs. Peanut Butter Sandwich Lemon-Ups vs. Lemonades Girl Scout S'mores vs. Toast Yay Toffee Tastic vs. Chocolate Chip What's next: Girl Scout Cookies are on sale until April 2 in Chicago and Northwest Indiana.
Fox News
27-02-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Girl Scouts defends cookies amid 'toxic' concerns in ongoing controversy over ingredients
The Girl Scouts of the USA is responding to recent claims that its cookies contain "toxic" metals and other potentially harmful ingredients. A study by the nonprofit group Moms Across America, in partnership with GMOScience, claimed that Girl Scout cookies were tested for contaminants and found to contain traces of toxic metals and glyphosate, which is a herbicide commonly used to kill weeds. Joe Rogan on Monday referenced the report on his podcast, calling the cookies "toxic as [expletive]." A spokesperson for the Girl Scouts of the USA told Fox News Digital this week, however, that its cookies are safe and meet all U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards. "The health and safety of our customers is our top priority," the Girl Scouts, headquartered in New York City, told Fox News Digital in a statement. "All Girl Scout cookies are produced by our trusted licensed bakers, who are leaders in their industry and adhere to rigorous food safety standards set by the FDA and other relevant authorities," the group also said. The study revealed that 22 of 25 cookie samples tested positive for all five metals – aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, according to Moms Across America. The Girl Scouts of the USA issued a response to the report. Thin Mints were found to contain the highest level of glyphosate — while Peanut Butter Patties had the highest level of toxic metals, Moms Across America claimed. In a Feb. 6 post on its official blog, the Girl Scouts of the USA issued a response to the report. "Rest assured: Girl Scout cookies are safe to consume," it said. The Girl Scouts went on to claim that environmental contaminants, which can include heavy metals, "can occur naturally in soil." "This means that nearly all foods using plant-based ingredients, including organic foods, may contain trace amounts," according to the blog. "This does not mean that these foods are harmful to consume." The Girl Scouts also said that glyphosate "is found nearly everywhere in the food chain." "Trace amounts of glyphosate can be found in fresh fruits, vegetables, cereals, baked goods, and other food and beverage commodities," the blog said. "Similarly, small amounts of heavy metals can be found naturally in the environment, including in food products, due to air, water and soil exposure. These metals are not added to our Girl Scout cookies." The Girl Scouts said its bakers "confirmed that the levels reported do not pose a food safety concern to our customers." A "questions and answers" page about glyphosate found on the FDA's website provides more details about the use of the herbicide on certain crops. "Certain trace amounts of pesticides, or pesticide chemical residues, may remain in or on some crops after they're harvested," the FDA said. "The FDA's role is to ensure that pesticide chemical residues on or in domestic and imported foods do not exceed the limits established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)." The EPA "has established tolerances for glyphosate on a wide range of human and animal food crops, including corn, soybean, oil seeds, grains, and some fruits and vegetables." "According to the EPA, glyphosate has a low toxicity for people." Several social media posts incorrectly suggested that Girl Scout cookies had been recalled. The Girl Scouts of the USA has been around since 1912. The first recorded sales of cookies to fund troop activities was in 1917. Today's debate and concern about ingredients in many common foods comes as the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement gains steam with the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of Health & Human Services.
