Share and Follow
A recent report has raised concerns about popular protein powders and shakes, revealing they may contain dangerous levels of lead and other harmful metals.
According to findings published by Consumer Reports, an analysis of 23 protein powders and ready-to-drink shakes showed that over two-thirds of these products contained more lead per serving than experts consider safe for daily consumption, with some exceeding this limit by more than tenfold.
Consumer Reports advises consumers to be cautious and possibly reduce their usage of the identified products.
- Naked Nutrition’s Vegan Mass Gainer powder
- Huel’s Black Edition protein powder
- Garden of Life’s Sport Organic Plant-Based Protein
- Momentous 100% Plant Protein
- MuscleMeds Carnivor Mass
- Optimum Nutrition’s Serious Mass powder
- Jocko Fuel’s Mölk Protein Shake
- Vega’s Premium Sport Plant-Based Protein
- Quest Protein Shake
- Orgain’s Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder
- Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Protein Shake
- Equip Foods Prime Protein powder
- PlantFusion’s Complete Protein powder
- Ensure’s Plant-Based Protein Nutrition Shake
- Muscle Milk’s Pro Advanced Nutrition Protein Shake
- KOS Organic Superfood Plant Protein powder
In a similar study conducted in 2010, Consumer Reports found that 15 brands of protein powders and shakes were tainted with high levels of lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. This suggests that the issue of metal contamination may be more widespread than previously thought.
Particularly concerning are plant-based protein powders, which were found to have significantly higher lead levels—on average, nine times more than those derived from dairy or beef. Two of these plant-based options showed such high concentrations that experts recommend avoiding them altogether.
CR found Naked Nutrition’s Vegan Mass Gainer Powder had 7.7 micrograms of lead per serving, and Huel’s Black Edition protein powder contained 6.3 micrograms of lead. A full list of the products tested can be found in the report.
“It’s concerning that these results are even worse than the last time we tested,” Tunde Akinleye, the food safety expert who led the study, said.
While there is no federal limit on the amount of lead in dietary supplements, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has an interim reference level to determine when contaminants become a health concern. Its benchmark for lead is 8.8 micrograms a day for adults and women of childbearing age, and 2.2 micrograms for children.
In an emailed statement to NewsNation, a spokesperson for Huel said its product is “well within all recognized safety limits.”
NewsNation has reached out to Naked Nutrition for comment.
Other companies told CR that their products undergo testing for heavy metals and are safe for consumption.
Lead is naturally occurring and, according to the FDA, it is “not possible to completely prevent lead from entering the food supply.” The agency explains, however, that in some foods, the levels of lead could be reduced by changing “agricultural or manufacturing practices.”
“By law, food manufacturers have a responsibility to significantly minimize or prevent chemical hazards when needed,” according to the FDA.
These findings come just as the FDA has sounded the alarm on 16 brands of cinnamon containing unsafe levels of lead.
Kidney dysfunction, hypertension, and neurocognitive effects have been linked to chronic lead exposure in adults, the FDA notes. Children are more vulnerable to experiencing health effects due to lead exposure.
