Toxic substances linked to autism and cancer are present at dangerous levels in Girl Scout Cookies, a study warns.
Every sample of cookie tested contained glyphosate, the active ingredient in the weed-killer Roundup, and heavy metals such as lead and arsenic.
Research has shown that exposure to this herbicide during pregnancy and lactation may increase the risk of autism in children, while the metals have been linked to a range of health problems including cancer.
They tested for five metals that can be dangerous to human health: aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury.
Approximately 88 percent of samples contained all five.
And nearly eight in 10 tested positive for levels of cadmium that exceed limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Meanwhile, 96 percent were positive for lead.
Scientists have made a shocking discovery while testing Girl Scout Cookies, finding that the seasonal treats contain a toxic chemical linked to autism
‘The health and safety of our customers is our top priority,’ a spokesperson for the Girl Scouts of the USA told DailyMail.com.
‘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.
‘When you buy Girl Scout Cookies, proceeds stay local, every purchase of Girl Scout Cookies supports local troops in your community.’
The investigation was published by GMOScience.org, a nonprofit organization that seeks to educate the public about the impacts of genetically modified organisms.
The researchers tested every available cookie flavor, using 25 samples collected from California, Iowa and Louisiana.
All 25 samples tested positive for ‘very elevated levels’ of glyphosate and its byproduct aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA).
The Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of glyphosate and AMPA for humans is 1,000 nanograms per gram (ng/g), according to the National Pesticide Information Center.
However, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) limits it to 500 ng/ng daily.
The GMOScience study found the highest levels of glyphosate in Thin Mints from Louisiana.
The researchers found that 100 percent of the cookie samples contained glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup, which is used to control weeds and grasses
Thin Mints from Louisiana contained the highest levels of glyphosate
Based on the test results, each cookie contains roughly 600 nanograms of glyphosate and AMPA.
In Iowa, Lemonades — shortbread cookies with lemon icing — contained the highest levels of glyphosate and AMPA with 1,140 ng per cookie.
Do-si-dos had the highest levels in California. The peanut-butter-filled oatmeal sandwich cookies had more that 574 ng per cookie.
The average amount of glyphosate contamination in all samples was 33.43 ng/g, which is 334 times higher than what Dr. Don Huber, Professor Emeritus of Perdue University, states is harmful and must be avoided, according to the report.
Due to the widespread use of glyphosate in agriculture, trace amounts may be found in fresh fruits, vegetables, cereals, and other food and beverage commodities, according to the EPA.
This includes crops commonly used to make Girl Scout Cookies, such as wheat, sugar cane and canola.
But the EPA states that glyphosate is considered nontoxic to humans when used properly, and that trace amounts found in certain food products are ‘not of concern for the consumer.’
Multiple studies have linked high levels of exposure to health risks, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
These chocolate-and-peppermint cookies had an Effective Glyphosate Level (the combined amounts of glyphosate and AMPA) of 111.07 nanograms/gram (ng/g)
All of the cookie samples contained at least four out of the five toxic heavy metals they tested for: aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury
For example, a 2021 study in mice published in the journal Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience found that male offspring showed ASD-like behaviors such as social interaction deficits after maternal exposure to glyphosate.
The test results also indicated that 100 percent of the cookie samples contained at least four out of the five toxic heavy metals they tested for: aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury.
The Peanut Butter Patties (also known as Tagalongs) were the most contaminated.
One cookie contained 8.75 ng of mercury, 531.25 ng of lead and more than 300,000 ng (300 micrograms) of aluminum.
Mercury is a neurotoxin, and exposure to this heavy metal has been linked to vision changes, numbness, loss of coordination, impairment of speech, hearing or walking and muscle weakness, among other health issues, according to the EPA.
The agency states that 45 ng of mercury per pound of body weight per day is the maximum safe dose. For example, a 200-pound adult can safely consume up to 9,000 ng of mercury per day.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there is no safe level of exposure to lead.
This toxic metal has been linked to increased risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, kidney damage, reduced fetal growth and preterm birth.
The vast majority (96 percent) of cookies tested contained lead.
The adverse health impacts of aluminum are less understood, but according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), some studies suggest high levels of exposure can lead to Alzheimer’s disease and nervous system damage.
The EPA has determined that an exposure level of 0.05 to 0.2 milligrams (50,000 to 200,000 ng) per liter of drinking water is safe, but it is difficult to translate this recommended dose into grams of food.
Studies in rats and mice have shown that doses of roughly 45 million ng per pound of body weight per day produced neurological effects, according to the CDC.
In Girl Scout Cookies, ‘the source of the high levels of aluminum is unclear. However, non-organic peanut crops are one of the most highly sprayed crops with some of the most toxic chemicals,’ the GMOScience report states.
The test results also indicated that 76 percent of the cookies contained levels of cadmium that exceeded EPA limits in water.
In the short term, consuming high levels of this heavy metal can severely irritate the stomach and cause vomiting and diarrhea, according to the EPA.
But the greatest concern is from exposure to lower doses of cadmium over a long period of time, the agency states.
This may result in non-life threatening kidney damage, kidney stones, skeletal issues, high blood pressure, anemia, liver disease, nerve or brain damage and cancer.
The authors of the report hope these findings may ‘create opportunities for change.’
‘We felt that our results were alarming, and they raised larger concerns about the safety of many other brands of cookies that are likely manufactured using similar practices,’ the GMOScience report states.
‘The health implications of toxic substances in cookies extend beyond the immediate impact on our girls and affect the public at large. Identifying and eliminating the sources of these toxic metals is imperative to safeguarding public health.’
