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The Bitter Truth? Heavy Metals and Toxins Spark New Food Safety Fears, From Baby Food to Girl Scout Cookies

A seemingly innocuous treat, a symbol of childhood and charitable giving, has become the latest battleground in the escalating war over food safety in America: Girl Scout cookies. Recent reports and a proposed class-action lawsuit have cast a shadow over the beloved cookies, alleging the presence of heavy metals and the herbicide glyphosate. This controversy, however, is merely the tip of the iceberg, reflecting a broader, deeper unease among consumers about the safety and integrity of the food supply. From baby food to spices, chocolate to seemingly wholesome cookies, the specter of contaminants looms large, raising unsettling questions about regulation, testing, and the long-term health consequences of exposure.

The controversy erupted after a study, commissioned by Moms Across America and GMO Science, analyzed a sample of Girl Scout cookies purchased in three states. The study, which has not undergone peer review and involved a relatively small sample size, claimed to have found four out of five heavy metals tested for present in all cookie samples. These included aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. Glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, was also reportedly detected.

The Girl Scouts, understandably, have defended their products, asserting that the cookies are safe to eat and manufactured according to current safety standards. They emphasized that their bakers do not intentionally add any contaminants, and any trace amounts found are likely due to environmental exposure. This explanation, however, has done little to quell the growing anxiety among parents and consumers.

This isn’t an isolated incident. In recent years, a string of food safety scares has plagued the nation. Recalls due to listeria, salmonella, and E. coli contamination have become increasingly common. The discovery of bird flu virus in raw milk further eroded consumer confidence. The FDA’s recent ban on Red Dye No. 3 in food and drinks, prompted by concerns about potential links to cancer and behavioral issues in children, underscored the perceived inadequacy of current safety measures.

The rising tide of concern is palpable. Jerold Mande, an adjunct professor of nutrition at Harvard’s School of Public Health and a former senior policy official at the FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s food safety programs, acknowledges this pervasive unease. He notes that Americans are increasingly on edge about the safety of their food, a sentiment fueled by a growing awareness of potential risks and a perceived lack of robust regulatory oversight.

Mande suggests that the presence of contaminants in processed foods, including Girl Scout cookies, shouldn’t be entirely surprising. Given the sensitivity of modern testing methods, it’s likely that many, if not most, processed foods would test positive for at least one toxin. The crucial question, he argues, is not simply whether contaminants are present, but rather, "How much is too much?" And, perhaps more importantly, "Who gets to decide that?"

Even if foods fall below the currently established thresholds for contaminants, Mande cautions that these levels may still contribute to the chronic health issues plaguing Americans. He points to a critical gap in research, particularly government-funded studies, to fully understand the long-term health impacts of even low-level exposure to various chemicals and heavy metals.

“Consumers are rightly concerned, and I’m concerned,” Mande stated. “But there’s nothing you can do as an individual to really protect yourself, unless you’re going to grow all the food yourself, and even then there can be contaminants.”

The challenge is compounded by the evolution of testing technologies. At the inception of many food safety regulations and the establishment of the FDA, tests for contaminants were far less sensitive than they are today. Laws like the 1950s-era Food Additives Amendment, which banned any amount of cancer-causing substances from food, were based on testing capabilities in the parts-per-million range. Today, scientists can detect substances in parts per billion or even trillion, revealing previously undetectable trace amounts in a far wider range of foods.

This increased sensitivity, while a scientific advancement, has also triggered a cascade of anxiety. The ability to detect minute quantities of contaminants raises questions about acceptable levels and the potential cumulative effects of long-term exposure.

Heavy metals can enter the food chain through various pathways. Some are naturally occurring in the environment, present in soil and water. Others can be traced back to the historical use of pesticides containing heavy metals. Although these pesticides are no longer used on food crops, they have left a legacy of contamination in soil, water, and even the air. Additionally, heavy metals can sometimes be introduced during food processing.

The levels of contaminants found in food depend on the plant or animal’s ability to absorb them from the environment, according to the FDA.

Ana M. Rule, assistant professor and director of the Exposure Assessment Laboratories at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, notes that cadmium, for example, is a naturally occurring metal. “But just because they’re naturally occurring, doesn’t mean they’re safe,” she emphasized, particularly in light of past findings of high cadmium levels in chocolate.

The health risks associated with heavy metals are well-documented. They have been linked to a range of acute and long-term illnesses and developmental issues, particularly in young children, whose developing bodies are more vulnerable to their toxic effects.

While the FDA has established recommended lead levels for babies and young children and is in the process of developing similar levels for arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, it lacks suggested levels for the general population. Instead, the agency states that its overarching goal is to reduce the levels of these contaminants in food.

Mark Corkins, division chief of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, acknowledged the inherent challenges in eliminating all contaminants from food. “To be honest, there’s nothing that’s going to be completely free of any contamination,” he stated after Consumer Reports found heavy metals in baby foods in 2023.

So, can you still eat those Girl Scout cookies sitting on your shelf? Jerold Mande suggests that it’s a personal decision, weighing the potential risks against the enjoyment derived from the treat. He emphasizes that heavy metals and other toxins are likely present in a wide range of foods, detectable with sufficiently sensitive tests. He suggests that the risks associated with eating a Girl Scout cookie that meets government standards, even with detectable levels of contaminants, are likely lower than many other risks individuals take daily.

However, Mande also cautions against complacency. The Girl Scouts’ assertion that their cookies adhere to regulatory standards shouldn’t necessarily put consumers at ease.

Vineet Dubey, a consumer protection and environmental attorney, echoed this sentiment, stating that the claim that the cookies are "safe" "feels like they’re dodging the point. It’s very hard for the Girl Scouts to claim that with any certainty."

Mande stresses the significant unknowns regarding the chronic health impacts of chemicals in our food, including heavy metals. He highlights the fact that Americans experience a higher rate of chronic illness compared to other wealthy nations, raising concerns about the potential role of food contaminants.

Furthermore, Mande points out that the majority of food sold in the U.S. does not undergo pre-approval by the FDA before being placed on the market. This reliance on self-regulation by companies, often driven by profit motives, raises questions about the effectiveness of the current system. "The government’s not doing its job ensuring the safety of our food, and the industry’s not doing its job ensuring the safety of our food," he concludes.

The Girl Scout cookie controversy serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and challenges surrounding food safety in the 21st century. It underscores the need for increased research, more robust regulation, and greater transparency to ensure that the food we consume is not only affordable and accessible but also safe for our health and the health of future generations. The question of how much is too much, and who gets to decide, remains a critical debate that demands urgent attention.