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New York Post
25-04-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Brooklyn Girl Scout crowned top cookie seller in NYC
There's a new queen of the cookies. A sweet-talking Brooklynite has been crowned the top Girl Scout cookie seller in all of the five boroughs after hawking more than 2,500 boxes of Tagalongs, Trefoils and Thin Mints, The Post has learned. Bay Ridge's Ashleigh F. rose to the top after two years of being the top Brooklyn seller, this time unseating her very own frenemy, who held the title for three years running. Advertisement 7 Ashleigh F. of Bay Ridge was named the top Girl Scout cookie seller of 2025. Stephen Yang 'It feels really good. There's no other way to describe it,' Ashleigh said, adding that there were some screams when she heard the news. The 12-year-old cadet sold a mouth-watering 2,528 cookies this year — which, at $7 a box, equates to $17,696 in profit. Advertisement The total was more than enough to overtake reigning champ Avianna Spatz of Manhattan, who Ashleigh had come to know through their years as their respective borough's top cookie sellers. 'Me and Ashleigh have been doing Girl Scouts for the past like five years and we've had this little rivalry, like, 'Who can sell them more and who can be the number one seller?' And I've had it for the last three years. It was an amazing feeling to be the best — I'm glad Ashleigh got this,' Avianna, 13, told The Post. The incredible feat was easy enough for Ashleigh, who punched in an average of eight hours per week peddling the iconic treats in Prospect Park — plus countless days manipulating the social media algorithm to reach an even wider audience. The 7th grader used her mother's Facebook as her own personal advertising site, posting tempting snapshots of the sweet treats and upping the cuteness factor in videos that reminded viewers that every purchase directly benefits the Girl Scout troops. Advertisement 7 Ashleigh sold 2,528 boxes of Thin Mints, Tagalongs and more. Stephen Yang They would post the clips on Monday, then her father would share them on Tuesday, and on Wednesday, a friend would comment to re-boost the post, and so on until each garnered upwards of 1,000 views, her father, William, explained. The ingenious marketing technique was a welcome boost, in addition to her already tried-and-true tactics — which involved setting up stand at uber-popular Brooklyn hotspots. 'We go sell them at train stations during the weekdays and during the evening when people are getting home from work, and on nice weekends we go to the park,' Ashleigh said. Advertisement When The Post asked where exactly she sets up shop, the Cadet laughed. It's confidential, she explained — and she's already battling fellow Girl Scouts 7 Ashleigh was the top seller in Brooklyn for two consecutive years. Stephen Yang 'I have to get there early,' she continued. Once set up, the cookie connoisseur lets the sweet treats do all the sweet talking. All Ashleigh has to do is get her customer's attention with an easy smile and an irresistible question: 'Hi. Would you like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?' And if the customer tries to weasle their way out by saying they don't have cash, Ashleigh follows up with the closer: 'We take Venmo!' 7 Ashleigh has been a Girl Scout for seven years. Obtained by the NY Post 7 'It feels really good. There's no other way to describe it,' Ashleigh said on her win. Obtained by the NY Post Advertisement Most customers don't need convincing, she explained — pointing to one man who chased her family down the street after he caught them loading the van with 18 boxes of Do-si-dos, all of which he eagerly took off their hands. Despite her previous success as Brooklyn's top seller, Ashleigh was shocked to hear she took home the top seed in 2025, considering she sold less this year than she had during the two prior years. She hawked 364 more boxes in 2024, and another 41 more the year before — plus Tribecca teen Avianna Spatz had consistently peddled around 5,000 boxes for the past three years. However, the Girl Scouts of Greater New York (GSGNY) was struggling this year. The group sold 1.1 million boxes in 2025, an 8% decline from last year, potentially caused by the $2 price jump for each box. Advertisement 7 Ashleigh rose to the top with the help of her parents, William and Amber, who taught her how to use social media to reach a wider audience. Stephen Yang 'I was quite surprised, because this year we barely made it over my goal of 2,500,' Ashleigh said. 'My dad says people will always spend $20 on cookies, whether it's five boxes or two boxes.' Ashleigh wasn't the only one who climbed to the top this year. Winter, a Brownie, became the top seller for Staten Island after selling 2,500 boxes, a total she tied with new Manhattan seller Naomi. Advertisement Bronx Cadette Kalila and Queens Senior Julia maintained their borough top spots after hawking 2,008 and 1,551 boxes, respectively. The NYC Girl Scouts asked the high-performing scouts' last names not be used protect the young women's privacy. 7 Ashleigh says the secret to being the top cookie seller is knowing the best spots to set up stand. Stephen Yang Reigning champ, Avianna, was completely knocked off the charts this year, but the humble teen said that's just the way the cookie crumbles. The loss was bittersweet for Avianna, who had hopes of winning the title yet again, but was saddled with high school applications, Bat Mitzvah studies and an exploding attraction to volleyball. Advertisement The Manhattanite sold just 600 boxes this year to close the chapter on her time with the Girl Scouts, which she'll be leaving at the end of this spring. But she warned that her little sister Eliana, 5, will continue her legacy. 'I'm excited because my sister, she's going to be starting Girl Scouts soon, so hopefully she can regain the title and get some of that feeling for herself.'
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Three-day Girl Scout cookie sale held in Midtown Manhattan
MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) — Looking for a box of Thin Mints, Trefoils, or Tagalongs? You are in luck! The Girl Scouts of Greater New York's Troop 6000 is hosting a three-day outdoor cookie sale at Midtown's Grace Plaza at the Bank of America Pavilion at 1114 Sixth Avenue. More Local News Launched in 2017, Girl Scouts of Greater New York's Troop 6000 is a pioneering program designed to support families living in temporary housing within the New York City shelter system. Proceeds will help Troop 6000 bring the Girl Scouts' signature leadership development program to family shelters across New York City. The Bank of America will match the proceeds from every box sold during the cookie sale. The sale runs from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Girl Scout Cookies are heading to court
The typically tranquil spring ritual of green-clad Girl Scouts selling Samoas and Thin Mints has been rocked by drama this year. Queens resident Amy Mayo filed a class action lawsuit in federal court this week claiming the three boxes of cookies she bought were contaminated with heavy metals that included aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. The lawsuit was based on research conducted by GMOScience and Moms Across America, which claims the testing was conducted on 13 different types of Girl Scout Cookies collected in the middle-to-latter portions of 2024 from California, Iowa, and Louisiana. The study — which has not been peer reviewed, but gained attention on TikTok — claimed 100% of the samples were positive for toxic metals. According to the fact-checking outlet Snopes, the heavy metals allegedly detected within the cookies were 'at levels well within' guidelines set by U.S. regulators. The outlet, citing public health experts who examined the study, went on to say that a child would need to consume thousands upon thousands of cookies per day to get close to 'harmful levels.' In a general post on environmental contaminants that's unrelated to the lawsuit, the FDA said it prioritizes arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury 'due to their potential to cause harm during times of active brain development—in the womb through early childhood.' These heavy metals can 'occur naturally in the environment and are often at higher levels from past industrial uses and pollution,' the FDA wrote. Adding to the intrigue, Mayo quietly withdrew from her lawsuit this week. However, the case still remains active with other plaintiffs. Mayo's lawyers did not respond to a Quartz request for comment as to why she withdrew. Meanwhile, the Girl Scouts of the USA have refuted the allegations. As the lawsuit plays out, and in the spirit of the Spring cookie season, we are ranking our favorite Girl Scout cookies. Who can resist these cookies, which are described as crisp with caramel, coconut, and chocolaty stripes ? Apparently, no one at Quartz, because this — by our informal newsroom poll — is the lead cookie. In hindsight, maybe they also sport a pleasant metallic zing? These iconic cookies scored high in the newsroom. These are crisp, chocolate cookies dipped in a delicious, mint-chocolaty coating. Quartz executive editor, Sarah Douglass, recommends storing them in the freezer. (Pro tip: Don't do what this writer did and store them on your kitchen window sill in the sun.) The voting gets a little murkier after the first two, but a timeless shortbread dubbed Trefoils appears to occupy a definite place of fondness among Quartz staffers and the American public. Fun fact: In French, 'tre foils' translates to three foils! These magnetic icing-topped round shortbread wonders also received a fair share of votes among Quartz staffers. They're a refreshing, magnetic cookie as warmer weather approaches. This oatmeal-peanut butter cookie didn't garner a ton of votes, but it has its devoted following. This is a peanut-butter patty drenched in chocolate — and drenched with fandom in the Quartz newsroom. This whole poll is given more credibility by the fact that one of our own — reporter Madeline Fitzgerald — was once a Girl Scout (once a scout, always a scout?) who says she always got the prize for selling the most cookies. She leavened her achievement with modesty: 'but it was primarily because when we sold them at the grocery store or whatever,' Fitzgerald said. This peculiar treat garnered one lonely vote, but if more people tried it — billed as an indulgent, brownie-inspired cookie topped with caramel-flavored crème with a hint of sea salt — it might have gotten more votes! Rounding out the list, how can you go wrong with S'mores? Lemon-Ups, Toast-Yays, Toffee-tastic, and Caramel Chocolate Chip — you didn't make the cut, but perhaps Quartz reporters will indulge in some additional 'research' to gauge whether those flavors are worthy of inclusion next time there's a lawsuit. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Girl Scouts of America Is Facing a Class Action Lawsuit That Threatens to Disrupt Beloved Cookie Season
If you weren't aware of it already, it's officially Girl Scout cookie season. The nationally recognized (and quite frankly, obsessive) cookie season falls between January and April of each year, bringing with it loads of fan-favorite flavors for all to enjoy. Between Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Trefoils, Do-si-dos, S'mores and Lemon-Ups, there's plenty of flavors to go around once the season begins. Before we go too far down the favorite-flavor rabbit hole, there is one unfortunate bit of information that can potentially spoil this season's Girl Scout cookie madness: a class action lawsuit. That's right, our beloved Girl Scout cookies were just slapped with a federal lawsuit claiming that some cookies contain heavy metals, pesticides and other toxins. The lawsuit, which was filed by a New York woman on Monday, certainly comes as bad timing for many, as it cites a study by 'Mom's Across America' and 'GMO Science,' claiming that 100-percent of cookies tested in the study contained toxins. It is important to note, however, that the study's claims are solely based on a small sample size of only 25 cookies across three states. So do with that information what you will. Related: In the meantime, there are some other factors that have been made clear in light of the lawsuit. For one, the study results were not peer-reviewed or published in a scientific journal. Additionally, the lawsuit seeks $5 million dollars in damages for people who brought the cookies across the United States. The lawsuit also calls for the cookie sellers to disclose the substances on packaging moving forward. In response to the allegations made via the lawsuit, The Girl Scouts of America shared a blog post last month that the cookies are, in fact, 'safe to eat' and 'manufactured in line with all food safety regulations.' The company also added that heavy metals happen to occur naturally in soil where trace amounts are not a safety issue. Related: 'Girl Scout Cookies are made with ingredients that adhere to food safety standards set by the FDA and other relevant authorities,' the blog post read. 'Our trusted bakers remain committed to compliance with all food safety standards and regulations set forth by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other relevant health authorities.' Until an official recall is on the books, we'll have to keep an eye on the situation as it develops. In our opinion, a study of more than just 25 cookies should be conducted, however it is pretty worrisome to learn that all 25 cookies tested positive for heavy metals and other toxins. There's definitely more to learn as the investigation progresses. Up Next:
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Girl Scouts Face Lawsuit Over Heavy Metals & Toxins Allegedly Present In Cookies
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Now that we're deep into Girl Scout cookie season, troops from across the country are hitting the pavement with the hopes of selling Thin Mints, Trefoils, Tagalongs, and other cookies to the masses. But according to a frightening new lawsuit, those cookies could allegedly be tainted with a number of toxic ingredients. Amy Mayo, a New York woman, has filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against Girl Scouts of America that alleges that their cookies contain heavy metal and toxins. The lawsuit cites the "Danger in the Dough" study that was commissioned by the consumer groups Moms Across America and GMO Science. The study, published in December of last year, said that 100% of the Girl Scout cookies tested contained aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. Additionally, all cookies tested were positive for glyphosate, a widely used herbicide that is harmful to humans. In their report, they specifically listed the following findings: 100% of the samples were positive for glyphosate 100% were positive for toxic metals 22 out of 25 (88%) of samples were positive for all 5 toxic metals 76% were positive for levels of cadmium that exceed Environmental Protection Agency' (EPA) limits in water 24 out of 25 (96%) of samples were positive for lead Upon reaching the end of their study, the group's request to speak with Girl Scouts of America allegedly went unanswered. "After the testing was completed (and before releasing the results of the testing), the groups which commissioned the testing reached out to Girl Scouts in order to discuss the findings but never received any sort of response," the lawsuit states. However, as Forbes notes, the study was not published in a scientific journal and was not peer-reviewed. Further, the outlet reports, "the research tested just 25 cookie samples from three states, a small sample size that doesn't necessarily reflect contamination levels nationwide." The study detected trace amounts of glyphosate and heavy metals. However, it did not compare these findings to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) food safety standards. Instead, it referenced the EPA's water safety limits, which are not relevant to food and can potentially exaggerate the perceived risks. Additionally, the lawsuit calls out the Girl Scouts of America for allegedly making false claims about the safety and quality of their cookies in marketing materials and packaging. Even the company's ethics were mentioned in the lawsuit. "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 and failed as well to address the concerns raised in the laboratory testing that took place," the lawsuit continued. In total, the lawsuit seeks $5 million in damages to be awarded to U.S. buyers. In addition to this sum, the lawsuit seeks to have the Girl Scouts of America update its packaging to disclose the presence of the alleged toxic substances. The Girl Scouts of America did previously respond to claims of toxic ingredients in its cookies with "An Important Update for Our Members and Supporters." The message, posted to its website, confirmed that their cookies "are safe to consume." Delish has reached out for further comment but we have not heard back. News of Mayo's lawsuit comes just weeks after several TikTok videos about the alleged heavy metals and toxins in Girl Scout cookies went viral. One video, which has received well over 50,000 views, showed one creator tossing a container of Thin Mints in the trash after discovering "the truth about what's in Girl Scout cookies." You Might Also Like Insanely Easy Weeknight Dinners To Try This Week 29 Insanely Delicious Vodka Cocktails
