Toxic substances linked to autism and cancer are present at dangerous levels in Girl Scout Cookies, warns a study.
Each tested monster of the cookie contained glyphosate, the active ingredient in the weed murder round and heavy metals such as lead and arsenic.
Research has shown that exposure to this herbicide during pregnancy and lactation can increase the risk of autism in children, while the metals are linked to a series of health problems, including cancer.
They tested on five metals that can be dangerous for human health: aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury.
About 88 percent of the samples contained all five.
And almost eight in 10 tested positively for cadmium levels that exceed the limits that have been determined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
In the meantime, 96 percent were positive for lead.
Scientists have made a shocking discovery during the testing of Girl Scout cookies, and conclude that the seasonal treats contain a toxic chemical that is related to autism
“The health and safety of our customers is our top priority,” a spokesperson for the Girl Scouts of the US 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.
“If you buy Girl Scout cookies, stay locally, every purchase of Girl Scout Cookies supports local troops in your community.”
The research was published by Gmoscience.org, a non -profit organization that tries to inform the public about the effects of genetically modified organisms.
The researchers tested every available cookie taste, with the help of 25 samples collected from California, Iowa and Louisiana.
All 25 samples tested positively on 'very raised levels' of glyphosate and the by -productaminomethyl phosphonic acid (AMPA).
The acceptable daily intake (ADI) of glyphosate and ampa for people is 1,000 nanogram 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 coins from Louisiana.
The researchers discovered 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 contain the highest levels of glyphosate
Based on the test results, each cookie contains around 600 nanogram glyphosate and ampa.
In Iowa, lemonades – short bread biscuits with lemon waves – contain the highest levels of glyphosate and ampa with 1,140 ng per cookie.
DO-SI-dos had the highest levels in California. The sandwich cookies filled with peanut butter had more than 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 quantities can be found in fresh fruit, vegetables, grains and other food and drink products, according to the EPA.
This includes crops that are usually used to make girl scout cookies, such as wheat, sugar cane and canola.
But the EPA states that glyphosate is considered not -toxic for people when they are used correctly, and that trace amounts found in certain food products are 'not of care for consumers'.
Several studies have linked high exposure to health risks, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
These chocolate and peppermint cookies had an effective glyphosate level (the combined quantities of glyphosate and ampa) of 111.07 nanograms/gram (NG/G)
All cookie samples contain at least four of the five toxic heavy metals for which they tested: aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury
A study from 2021 in Mice published in the magazine Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience, for example, showed that male descendants showed ASD-like behavior, such as social interaction shortages after exposure to mothers to glyphosate.
The test results also indicated that 100 percent of the cookie samples contained at least four of the five toxic heavy metals for which they tested: aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury.
The peanut butter pasties (also known as tagalongs) were the most polluted.
One cookie contained 8.75 NG Kwik, 531.25 Ng Lead and more than 300,000 NG (300 micrograms) aluminum.
Mercury is a neurotoxin and exposure to this heavy metal is linked to face changes, numbness, loss of coordination, disorders of speech, hearing or walking and muscle weakness, including health problems, according to the EPA.
The agency states that 45 ng mercury per pound of body weight per day is the maximum safe dose. For example, an adult 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 lead exposure.
This poisonous metal is linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, kidney damage, reduced fetal growth and premature birth.
The vast majority (96 percent) of the tested cookies contained lead.
The adverse health effects of aluminum are less understood, but according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), some studies suggest that high exposure can lead to Alzheimer's disease and damage to the nervous system.
The EPA has established 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 around 45 million NG produced neurological effects per pound per pound per pound, 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 sprayed washed with some of the most toxic chemicals, “says the Gmoscience report.
The test results also indicated that 76 percent of cookies contained cadmium levels that exceed the EPA limits in water.
In the short term, the consumption of high levels of this heavy metal can seriously irritate and cause vomiting and diarrhea, according to the EPA.
But the greatest concern is exposure to lower doses of cadmium for a long period, says the desk.
This can lead to non-lifferring kidney damage, kidney stones, skeletal problems, high blood pressure, anemia, liver disease, nerve or brain damage and cancer.
The authors of the report hope that these findings 'create opportunities for change'.
“We found that our results were alarming and they brought greater concerns about the safety of many other brands of cookies that are probably manufactured using comparable practices,” said the Gmoscience report.
'The health implications of toxic substances in cookies go beyond the immediate impact on our girls and influence the public in general. Identifying and eliminating the sources of these toxic metals is necessary for protecting public health. '
