A new investigation has found that many popular protein powders and shakes may contain potentially dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals, including lead, although not all experts agree on the actual health risks to consumers. Consumer Reports tested 23 popular protein products and found more than two-thirds contained more lead per serving than their experts consider safe in a single day. Some products had more than 10 times what some health experts consider a safe daily amount, according to the report.
Plant-based products — especially those made with pea protein — were the worst offenders, averaging about nine times more lead than dairy- and beef-based counterparts. The investigation included both ready-to-drink shakes and powders intended for blending into smoothies. Some single servings contained between 400% and 1,600% of Consumers Reports’ recommended daily limit for lead, or four to 16 times higher than what it considers safe. For those that were slightly lower, experts recommended limiting consumption to once a week.
Several also contained measurable cadmium and arsenic, with cadmium levels in some cases more than twice what public health authorities consider potentially harmful daily exposure. Dairy-based protein powders and shakes generally had the lowest amounts of lead, but many still had enough for Consumer Reports’ experts to caution against daily use. Lead levels in the beef-based products were about half those of plant-based products on average. Most fell below Consumer Reports’ daily level of concern, though some exceeded it. Experts say these products are safe to consume ‘occasionally.’
No amount of lead is technically safe, the report noted, but the greatest danger comes from repeated or continuous exposure, particularly at high doses, and it is especially risky for children, pregnant women and older adults. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein is 46 grams for women and 56 grams for men. Active individuals may need nearly twice that amount, but experts say most people can easily meet their needs through food alone despite the recent craze driving a multibillion-dollar wellness trend marketed as a shortcut to build muscle.
Dr. Andrea Love, a Pennsylvania-based biomedical scientist, slammed the investigation as ‘fearmongering,’ noting the lead levels identified were measured in parts per billion and remained far below the daily exposure limits considered safe for adults. Moskovitz said the evaluation was based on ‘extremely conservative and controversial parameters.’ Still, she advised choosing brands that are third-party tested and show lower levels of lead.