Skip to main content

Is Your Protein Powder Safe? Report Reveals High Heavy Metal Levels

By India Edwards HealthDay Reporter

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Jan 20, 2025.

via HealthDay

MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2025 -- It turns out, your protein powder might not be as healthy as you think.

A new report from the Clean Label Project reveals that popular protein powders -- especially plant-based, organic and chocolate-flavored varieties -- may contain high levels of lead and cadmium.

The report highlights an alarming finding: Nearly half (47%) of the 160 products tested exceeded California’s Proposition 65 regulatory limits for lead, with 21% containing levels more than twice as high as those allowed under the law.

“Heavy metal contaminant is a global food safety problem,” Jackie Bowen, executive director of the Clean Label Project, told CNN.

“These contaminants are basically everywhere, including in things that are being represented as health foods,” she added.

An industry group, the Council for Responsible Nutrition, questioned the study's methodology and findings.

The investigation revealed that:

Plants naturally absorb heavy metals from soil and water, but contamination can be worse if they are grown in soil further tainted by industrial waste, mining and certain pesticides and fertilizers.

Dark chocolate, known for its rich flavonoids and antioxidants, is also prone to higher levels of heavy metals, including lead and cadmium.

For the report, Clean Label Project researchers purchased protein powders from 70 popular brands and ran nearly 36,000 tests for contaminants, including heavy metals and hormone disruptors like bisphenol A (BPA). Specific brands were not named.

“We do not disclose the names of companies we test in order to maintain fairness and consistency and to avoid potential conflicts of interest,” Bowen said.

Some good news: BPA and its cousin, bisphenol S (BPS), were found in just three of the 160 powders tested, compared to 55% of products analyzed in a 2018 Clean Label Project report.

The Council for Responsible Nutrition, which represents many supplement manufacturers, said the new study lacked transparency about how contamination thresholds were set and which products were tested.

"Modern analytical techniques can detect even trace levels of naturally occurring elements, such as heavy metals, which are present in soil, air, and water," Andrea Wong, a senior vice president for the council, told CNN. "These trace levels are often well below established safety thresholds set by federal agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)."

There is no level of lead that is safe for humans, according to the EPA. Cadmium is a cancer-causing agent that is also toxic to human organs, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Bowen emphasized that it's not necessary to avoid protein powders entirely, but making smarter choices can minimize exposure to harmful contaminants.

“For people following a fully plant-based diet, protein powders made from peas appear to have the lowest levels of heavy metals,” Bowen said. “If you don’t have any dietary restrictions, the data suggests that whey-based or egg-based, vanilla-flavored protein powders will have the least amount.”

She also encouraged consumers to reach out to brands and inquire about their contaminant testing practices.

“Ask questions, demand answers,” Bowen concluded. “The topic of heavy metals isn’t going away.”

Sources

  • Clean Label Project, report, Jan. 9, 2025
  • CNN

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

Recalled: More Than 67,000 Cases of Deodorant Sold at Dollar Tree, Walmart, and Amazon

TUESDAY, July 22, 2025 — More than 67,000 cases of Power Stick deodorant have been recalled due to an undisclosed manufacturing issue. The recalled deodorants, made by A.P...

For Some, Gluten Intolerance Is Psychological, Study Says

TUESDAY, July 22, 2025 — Gluten intolerance might be all in the minds of some people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), results from a small-scale experiment...

Dogs Can Sniff Out Parkinson's Disease, Study Shows

TUESDAY, July 22, 2025 — Dogs’ noses are sensitive enough to track down fleeing convicts, locate human remains in hidden burial sites and detect illicit drug...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.