A new Consumer Reports investigation has revealed that several popular protein powders and shakes may contain unsafe levels of toxic heavy metals, including lead, cadmium, and arsenic.
Published Tuesday, the report analyzed 23 protein supplements — spanning dairy, beef, and plant-based varieties — and found that more than two-thirds contained more lead per serving than what health experts consider safe: approximately 0.5 micrograms per day.
“Protein powders and shakes have become a daily staple for many people seeking to boost their protein intake,” said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, in a press release. “Our tests found that toxic heavy metal contamination in protein supplements is widespread — and the problem has worsened since we first analyzed these products 15 years ago.”
The investigation found that plant-based powders generally contained the highest levels of lead — averaging about nine times more than dairy-based proteins, such as whey, and roughly twice as much as beef-based supplements.
Among the products tested, Naked Nutrition’s Vegan Mass Gainer and Huel’s Black Edition were identified as containing the highest lead concentrations and were listed as “products to avoid.”
A spokesperson for Huel responded that the company’s ingredients undergo “rigorous testing” and that it remains “confident in the current formulation and safety” of its products. Rebecca Williams, Huel’s Head of Nutrition, added that trace amounts of lead can occur naturally in some ingredients and that the levels reported fall “well within internationally recognized safety limits.”
Naked Nutrition also stated that it sources ingredients from verified suppliers and has requested an independent third-party analysis of its Mass Gainer product.
The report noted that two of the tested supplements exceeded Consumer Reports’ threshold for cadmium — a probable human carcinogen per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) — while three others contained inorganic arsenic, a known carcinogen.
Unlike prescription or over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements such as protein powders are not reviewed or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prior to being sold. In response, Consumer Reports has launched a petition urging the FDA to establish stronger safety standards for heavy metals in protein products.
“No one should have to worry that their protein shake could expose them to dangerous levels of lead,” Ronholm said. “It’s time for the FDA to protect the public and hold manufacturers accountable by setting firm limits on contaminants in protein powders and shakes.”
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