There might be whey more in your protein shake than you bargained for.
A new Consumer Reports investigation found that many popular protein supplements are contaminated with “troubling levels of toxic heavy metals” like lead — and the problem has only gotten worse since the group first tested them 15 years ago.
The level of contamination varied greatly across products, raising concerns about the long-term health risks for daily users.
The findings come amid a high-protein craze, with the powerhouse nutrient being packed into nearly every food imaginable to help curb appetite, build muscle and keep people feeling full.
As a growing number of Americans turn to protein powders and shakes to hit their daily goals, Consumer Reports warns that even small amounts of lead can build up in the body over time.
Long-term lead exposure has been linked to serious health problems, including neurological and developmental damage, kidney issues, high blood pressure and a weakened immune system.
Despite these risks, there are still no federal limits on the amount of heavy metals protein products can contain. In fact, the FDA doesn’t review or approve these supplements before they hit shelves, leaving safety and labeling entirely up to manufacturers.
In the study, Consumer Reports tested 23 best-selling protein supplements, including dairy, beef and plant-based powders and ready-to-drink shakes.
They found that over two-thirds contained more lead in a single serving than the nonprofit’s experts say is safe to consume in a day — in some cases by 10 times or more.
While there were exceptions, products made with plant-based proteins had, on average, nine times more lead than dairy-based powders like whey, and twice as much as beef-based ones.
Two plant-based products contained so much lead that Consumer Reports warned against using them altogether.
Naked Nutrition’s Mass Gainer supplement packed a staggering 7.7 micrograms of lead per serving — roughly 1,570% of Consumer Reports’ safety threshold of 0.5 micrograms per day.
Huel’s Black Edition powder wasn’t far behind, with 6.3 micrograms per serving — about 1,290% of the group’s daily lead limit.
Lead contamination can happen naturally since the metal is found in the earth’s crust, but it’s also fueled by factors such as pollution, industrial waste and irrigation with contaminated water.
Plants tend to soak up whatever’s in the soil, making plant-based products especially vulnerable, the report explained.
“We take our customers’ health very seriously,” James Clark, chief marketing officer at Naked Nutrition, told Consumer Reports, adding the company has ordered a third-party test of its Mass Gainer powder in response to the findings.
A spokesperson for Huel, meanwhile, said that its ingredients undergo “rigorous testing” and that the manufacturer is “confident in the current formulation and safety of the products.”
Among the 23 products tested, dairy-based protein powders and shakes generally had the lowest amounts of lead. However, half of the products tested still had enough contamination for Consumer Reports to advise against daily use.
“There’s no reason to panic if you’ve been taking any of the products we tested, since many of these protein powders are fine to use occasionally and none of them will cause immediate harm,” Tunde Akinleye, the food safety researcher who led the testing project, said in a press release.
“But regular users of protein supplements should consider reducing their consumption.”
Lead wasn’t the only heavy metal lurking in these supplements. Two products also contained unsafe levels of cadmium — a probable human carcinogen, according to the EPA.
One whey protein powder also had 8.5 micrograms of inorganic arsenic, more than double the safe daily limit. Arsenic is a known carcinogen.
“We advise against daily use for most protein powders, since many have high levels of heavy metals and none are necessary to hit your protein goals,” Akinleye said.
The Recommended Dietary Allowance for protein is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight, or about 54 grams for a 150-pound person —yet the average US adult consumes about 2.9 ounces of protein per day, roughly 20% more than recommended amount, according to Harvard Health.
In light of the findings, Consumer Reports is urging the FDA to set strict limits on lead and other heavy metals in protein powders and shakes once the government shutdown ends.
“The FDA can take action if it finds unsafe lead levels, but the lack of enforceable standards means it doesn’t happen nearly enough,” said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports shared its findings with the FDA, which said it monitors contaminants through toxic element compliance programs, special surveys and state partnerships for lab testing.
“We will review the findings from Consumer Reports’ testing along with other data we have collected to better inform where to focus our testing efforts and enforcement activities,” a spokesperson said.
For a detailed breakdown of lead and other heavy metals in specific protein brands, check out Consumer Reports’ full list here.
