Protein Supplements Show Elevated Lead Levels In 70% Of Products

Protein Powders and Lead: What Lab Tests Reveal

Protein powders are everywhere, and about 7 in 10 Americans say they’re trying to eat more protein. Shakes and powders are an easy shortcut, but a round of lab tests of 23 products found lead in many of them. Some of the detected levels raise long-term health concerns rather than immediate poisoning.

Consumer Reports ran the testing across dairy, beef, and plant-based supplements, including powders and ready-to-drink shakes. Testers bought two to four lots of each product from online sellers, big-box retailers, and specialty nutrition stores. A “lot” is a specific group of products that are produced, processed, or packaged under the same conditions.

About 70 percent of the powders delivered lead per serving above CR’s daily “level of concern,” and several samples topped that mark by more than tenfold. Three products also exceeded concern levels for cadmium and inorganic arsenic, toxic metals classified by the EPA as probable and known human carcinogens, respectively. Compared with testing from 15 years ago, average lead measurements were higher and fewer items had undetectable lead.

Plant-based powders showed the worst contamination overall, and on average they contained nine times more lead than dairy-based powders and about twice as much as beef-based ones. Two items tested so high, 1,200 to 1,600 percent of the daily level of concern, that Consumer Reports advised not using them. Dairy-based options generally had the lowest readings, but about half still exceeded CR’s threshold for safe daily use.

Flavor mattered: vanilla varieties tended to show the lowest heavy-metal readings while chocolate-flavored powders tended to show the highest. Scientists say you don’t need to panic, but frequency matters, because regular daily use can let trace lead accumulate over time. Public health experts note there is no truly safe level of lead exposure.

CR’s ‘level of concern’ is 0.5 micrograms per day and is based on California’s Proposition 65 benchmark aimed at minimizing lifetime risk. The average American adult already takes in about 5 micrograms of lead per day from food, and the FDA’s interim reference level for women of childbearing age is 8.8 micrograms; any amount over that is “potentially concerning.” Some single servings in the tests were close to those marks: Naked Nutrition’s Mass Gainer contained 7.7 micrograms of lead per serving, and Huel Black Edition contained 6.3 micrograms.

For children the interim reference drops to 2.2 micrograms per day, which matters because surveys show a growing number of kids and teens are using protein supplements. Pieter Cohen, a supplement researcher, warned that lead can linger in the body for months. “That’s a serious concern, because the lead can stay in the body for months or longer,” says Dr. Cohen, who wasn’t involved in the research.

The most serious damage happens during active brain development, in the womb, infancy, and early childhood. For adults, chronic lead exposure is linked to kidney dysfunction, high blood pressure, and declines in cognitive function. That makes even low-level, long-term exposure worrying for public health officials.

This is the second major investigation in under a year to flag heavy metals in protein supplements; an earlier Clean Label Project study found nearly half of more than 150 powders exceeded California safety thresholds. Unlike medications, dietary supplements aren’t preapproved or routinely tested by the FDA before hitting shelves, and there are no enforceable federal limits for heavy metals in protein powders. That regulatory gap leaves consumers to judge risk on their own.

Jeff Ventura, vice president of communications at the Council for Responsible Nutrition, urged context in interpreting the results and said the report omitted important details. “While we appreciate that Consumer Reports has published some detail on its methodology, we note that important context is missing — specifically how products were selected, whether testing reflected typical consumer use, and how its ‘levels of concern’ were derived. Without harmonization to established federal benchmarks, or even actual safety risk, such proprietary thresholds can overstate risk and cause unnecessary alarm,” says Ventura.

“The mere detection of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, or arsenic does not equate to a health hazard. Modern testing methods are extraordinarily sensitive and capable of identifying trace amounts of naturally occurring elements that are found broadly in soil, water, and plants,” says Ventura.

Cohen also questioned the jump to supplements for many people: “I’m just not convinced that there are many common scenarios in which people need to add protein powder to the diet to be healthier. I think there’s much more hype than there is actual evidence to support it.” He suggests people focus on meeting protein needs through a balanced diet.

If you use protein powders, Consumer Reports recommends avoiding daily use, especially of plant-based or chocolate-flavored varieties, and favoring whey-based or collagen powders, which typically test lower for lead and cadmium. Check for third-party testing or NSF certification and look for transparent brands that publish heavy-metal results. Keep an eye on serving sizes, because more powder does not always mean more benefit.

Parents should be especially cautious because children absorb lead more easily and the safe daily reference is much lower for them. If you’re unsure, talk to a health professional before giving supplements to young people. Simple choices—less frequent use, different flavors, or other protein sources—can reduce exposure while still supporting nutrition goals.