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 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, 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.

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 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 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.