Lead in Protein Powders: What You Need to Know

Protein powders have become a staple in many households; they are routinely used by teen athletes, busy professionals, and health-conscious consumers. But a recent investigation by Consumer Reports has revealed that most protein powders contain concerning levels of lead, a toxic heavy metal.

What the Report Found

Consumer Reports tested 23 popular protein powders and ready-to-drink shakes and found that more than two-thirds contained more lead per serving than what CR experts consider safe for daily consumption.

“It’s concerning that these results are even worse than the last time we tested,” said Tunde Akinleye, CR’s food safety researcher.

It sounds scary, but before you panic, here’s what you need to know about this study.

Three Limitations of the Consumer Report (CR) Results:

Limitation 1: CR compared lead levels in powders with vastly different serving sizes, creating misleading results.

⚠️ Why Serving Size Matters

Comparing lead per serving can be misleading because serving sizes vary widely:

Naked Vegan Mass Gainer: 315 g serving → 7.7 µg lead.
Garden of Life Sport: 45 g serving → 2.76 µg lead.
Huel Black Edition: 90 g serving → 6.3 µg lead.

Lead per gram (approx.)

Naked Vegan Mass Gainer: 2.4 µg/100g
Garden of Life Sport: 6.1 µg/100g
Huel Black Edition: 7.0 µg/100g

Notice that the CR highlights Naked Mass Gainer as the “Products to Avoid” when, in fact, they have a lower lead contamination by weight than other vegan protein powders.

Table 1. Level of lead measured in protein powder samples by ConsumerReports.org

Limitation 2: CR compared protein powders to a benchmark of 0.5 µg per day, which is 10X lower than the FDA limits for drugs and supplements.

There are no federal regulations regulating the amount of lead in protein powders. CR compared protein powders to an arguably ambitious benchmark set by California Proposition 65, which established targets for a variety of substances that could cause cancer or fetal harm.

CR level of concern: 0.5 µg per serving

FDA standard: 5.0 µg per serving, for drugs and supplements.
National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International certification limit: 10.0 µg per serving, an independent organization that tests and certifies dietary supplements against specific standards set by the group, to ensure they meet rigorous safety standards.
FDA has set Interim Reference Level (IRL) based on the total intake of lead that leads to concentrations of lead in the blood associated with negative health effects. These reference levels are designed to protect pregnant women and children from lead toxicity:
- Children: 2.2 µg per day
- Women of childbearing age: 8 µg per day
- Adults: 12.5 µg per day

Note that the IRLs reflect total exposure per day, rather than per serving of one product.

Limitation 3: Trace amounts of lead are present in our food system.

Lead and other heavy metals occur naturally in soil and water, so achieving zero-level exposure is impossible. The average American adult is exposed to up to 5.3 micrograms of lead each day through their diet, according to a 2019 analysis published by scientists at the FDA.

Estimated Lead Levels in Common Foods vs Protein Powders

Source	Lead (µg per 100g or serving)
Fruits	0.2
Vegetables	0.3
Grains	0.4
Seafood	0.5

While protein powders varied widely from 0-7 µg per serving, the vast majority were less than 1 µg per serving. Even consuming one scoop of protein every day, to our typical daily intake of 5.3 µg per day, would add up to 6 µg per day, which is under the daily IRL recommended limit of 8 µg per day for most adults.

We get it, Lead Is Dangerous

Chronic lead exposure has been linked to immune suppression, reproductive problems, kidney damage, and high blood pressure in adults. Children and pregnant people are most vulnerable because lead can potentially cause neurological issues, developmental delays, and learning delays.

As a dietitian who doesn’t subscribe to fear-mongering, CR exaggerated the risk when they referenced a serving size of 6 scoops of Naked Nutrition Mass Gainer to demonstrate an excess of lead intake below:

Key Takeaways:

Companies Can Source Clean Protein

Vegan protein powders can be very nutritious and have a strong following. I predict that consumer demand will create change in manufacturing processes long before there are government safety regulations.

By highlighting the variability in lead levels in protein powders, CR has provided manufacturers with an opportunity to source their proteins from “clean” sources. In fact, both Vega and Momentous have already changed their protein sourcing to reduce the lead levels in their products. Earlier this year, Vega switched over to a pea protein powder grown in North America, instead of China. This is helpful because heavy metal levels in plant proteins reflect the soil in which crops are grown.

Caution to Pregnant Women and Children

Thanks to CR’s research, we may see new precautions issued against the regular use of pea protein powders for pregnant women and children, like the limits on the number of servings of tuna.

Food First Approach

Protein powders are a convenient way to get a serving of protein in a quick snack or smoothie on the go. Remember that most protein powders do not give us the full nutrient profile that we get from whole foods and are not a substitute for balanced meals. If you are having two or more scoops of protein a day, it’s time to refresh your diet – meet with a sports dietitian for fresh, new meal prep ideas.

What You Can Do

Don’t let these fear-based headlines scare you away from using your protein powder.

As a Sport Dietitian, I recommend:

Prioritize whole food proteins first (Greek yogurt, eggs, legumes, fish, poultry, tofu, and dairy).
Use up to 1-2 scoops of protein powder per day.
Rotate protein powders or use a mixed plant-based protein.
Look for pea protein powders sourced from North America.
Whey protein powder.

FAQ

Why does pea protein contain more lead than whey protein?

Plant protein powders contain more lead than whey protein powders because pea plants naturally absorb minerals and contaminants from the soil. Pea protein processing concentrates the nutrients and, unfortunately, also the contaminants. In contrast, contaminants are filtered through animal biology before entering cow milk in the case of whey protein.

Also, much of the pea protein used in supplements is imported, often from countries with less stringent soil and water regulations. For example, some pea protein comes from China, where soil contamination is a known issue. [newlifelongevity.com]