Heather’s first and last cookie-selling season for Girl Scouts. But know that her sweet troop, devoted troop leaders, and all of the other Girl Scout activities have been wonderful, wholesome, and such a positive experience!

As a mom and wellness advocate, I’ve always been conscious of the ingredients in the foods my family consumes. With my daughter being a first-year Girl Scout this year, I had hesitancy only for when “cookie-selling season” would approach, and rightfully so. I started researching the ingredients in Girl Scout Cookies (which they pride themselves on how they’ve improved in recent years), and I was deeply concerned. As suspected, these beloved treats contain poor-quality ingredients, genetically modified ingredients, heavy metals, and glyphosate—a controversial herbicide linked to numerous health concerns.

I personally reached out to Girl Scouts USA to express my concerns around their ingredients, and their response was disappointing. They firmly stand behind their use of genetically modified ingredients and dismissed the concerns about glyphosate. To me, this is unacceptable. The Girl Scouts should sell a product with integrity, something that contains ingredients they can proudly stand behind. Because of this, I let them know that my daughter will no longer sell these cookies in future years.

The Bigger Issue: Our Toxic Food Supply

While so many articles and memes are circulating around social media right now about this ingredient issue with Girl Scout Cookies – they are just one example of a poor quality processed food that both adults and children are consuming – the problem extends far beyond these treats.

Glyphosate is sprayed on wheat, oats, corn, and soy, meaning it’s in:

• Breakfast cereals (e.g., Cheerios, Quaker Oats)
• Granola bars (e.g., Nature Valley, KIND)
• Crackers (e.g., Goldfish, Ritz)
• Pasta (e.g., Barilla, Ronzoni)
• Even some organic foods due to cross-contamination

Heavy metals come from contaminated soil and water, showing up in:

• Rice and rice products (e.g., Uncle Ben’s, Rice Krispies)
• Protein powders (many whey and plant-based brands)
• Chocolate (e.g., Hershey’s, popular dark chocolate brands)
• Leafy greens and greens powders

The more processed foods we eat, the higher our toxic burden becomes. This isn’t just about one brand or one product—it’s about our entire food system.

What You Can Do

While we can’t avoid every toxin, we can take steps to minimize exposure and support our body’s natural detox pathways. Start with small, sustainable changes:

• Look for organic foods and/or the Non-GMO Project Certification
• Swap processed snacks for whole foods
• Drink clean, filtered water
• Support your body’s detox pathways through movement, hydration, and nutrient-dense foods

If you’re interested in learning more about reducing your toxic load, I’d love to support you in making healthier choices through 1:1 health coaching. In the meantime, I wholeheartedly support Moms Across America‘s suggestions to the Girl Scouts of America to change their cookies:

What is Moms Across America suggesting Girls Scouts do?

They are calling on the Girl Scouts to:

• Inform their suppliers that they will only be sourcing wheat and ingredients that are not sprayed with glyphosate and other harmful drying agents starting in 2026.
• Source non-GMO ingredients starting in 2026.
• Require their suppliers to conduct batch testing for pesticides, including herbicides such as glyphosate and heavy metals, in orders made in 2025.
• Remove seed oils and substitute for coconut oil, organic butter, or organic unscented tallow in 2026.
• Start a 2025 program to support Girl Scouts to be champions for regenerative organic farming practices.

How I Navigated This with My Kids

During cookie season, Girl Scouts focus on building valuable skills like goal setting, decision-making, money management, and business ethics. I ultimately chose to let my daughter participate in selling cookies this year to gain those experiences—but I also used it as a teachable moment.

We read the ingredient labels together, and I helped both of my children understand that these cookies contain little to no nutritional value and include ingredients that aren’t good for their bodies. However, I didn’t completely restrict them from enjoying some. I’ve placed one in their lunch box here and there for a treat, or let them have one amongst a wholesome snack tray. Instead, we had an open conversation about balance—understanding that it’s okay to have processed treats occasionally, but what matters most is prioritizing real, nutrient-dense foods in our daily lives. By this point, they’ve forgotten about the few boxes we bought/opened so they’ve gone straight where they belong – the trash!