Some protein powders, shakes contain high lead levels, report suggests
(NewsNation) — A new report shows that some popular protein powders and shakes on the market contain unsafe levels of lead and other metals.
In findings published by Consumer Reports, the team analyzed 23 protein powders and ready-to-drink shakes and found that more than two-thirds of the products contained more lead in a single serving than their experts say is safe to consume in a day, some by more than 10 times.
CR advised consumers look out for, or limit their usage of, the following affected 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
The publication’s 2010 study found that 15 brands of protein powders and shakes contained high levels of lead, arsenic, cadmium and/or mercury, with CR’s food safety experts suggesting the prevalence of lead and other metals in products is more widespread.
The plant-based powders CR tested had the worst lead levels, at least nine times more on average, than dairy and beef-based powders. Two of them have so much that experts suggest not using them at all.
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.
