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.
Researchers tested the cookies for the presence 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.