The report was conducted by Consumer Reports (CR), a nonprofit organization made up of journalists and scientists that conducts independent product testing.
Testers looked at dairy, beef, and plant-based supplements
CR researchers analyzed a variety of plant, dairy and beef protein supplements, including ready-to-drink powders and shakes. The team purchased two to four batches of each product from various sources, including online stores, big box stores, and nutrition stores.
A “batch” is a specific group of products that are produced, processed or packaged under the same conditions.
Key findings included:
- About 70 percent of the products tested delivered an amount of lead per serving above CR’s daily “level of concern,” and some exceeded that level more than ten times.
- Three products also exceeded the level of concern for cadmium and inorganic arsenic, toxic heavy metals classified as probable and known human carcinogens (cancer-causing compounds), respectively, by the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Compared to testing 15 years ago, average lead levels were higher and fewer products had undetectable lead.
- Powders of plant origin showed the highest contamination. Two products had lead levels so high (1,200 to 1,600 percent of the daily level of concern) that Consumer Reports recommends not using them at all.
- On average, plant-based products had nine times more lead than dairy-based products and twice as much as powdered meat products.
- While dairy-based protein powders generally had the lowest levels, about half still exceeded the CR threshold for safe daily use.
- Vanilla-flavored powders tended to have the lowest levels of heavy metals, while chocolate-flavored ones had the highest.
How much lead is too much?
This analysis is an important reminder that there can be traces of lead in protein powders, and if manufacturers are not careful in managing the amount of lead, levels can continue to rise, he says Pieter Cohen, MDsupplementary researcher and associate professor at Harvard Medical School in Boston.
“That’s a serious concern, because lead can stay in the body for months or longer,” says Dr. Cohen, who was not involved in the research.
The second report on protein powders in less than a year
Unlike it does with medications, the FDA does not routinely approve or test dietary supplements before they hit shelves, Cohen says. Manufacturers are responsible for their own safety testing and there are no applicable federal limits for heavy metals in protein powders. The lack of clear and consistent standards leaves consumers largely alone in judging risk, he says.
How did the different brands of protein powder compare?
The researchers classified the products into categories based on the amount of lead found in the powder or shake. Consumer Reports made the following recommendations:
Avoid completely
- Naked Nutrition Vegan Mass Gainer
- Huel Black Edition
Limit to once a week
- Garden of Life Sport Organic Plant-Based Protein
- Momentous 100 percent plant protein
Can be used occasionally
- MuscleMeds Carnivor Mass
- Serious mass of optimal nutrition
- Quest Protein Shake
- Orgain organic plant-based protein
- Vega Premium Sport vegetable protein
- Muscle Milk Pro Advanced Shake
Better daily options (below concern level)
- Owyn Pro Elite High Protein Shake
- Transparent Labs Mass Gainer
- Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100 Percent Whey
- BSN Syntha-6 Protein Powder
- Momentary Whey Protein Isolate
Supplement Makers Say Report Leaves Out Important Context
Jeff Ventura, vice president of communications for the Council for Responsible Nutrition, the leading trade group representing supplement makers, says people should keep a few things in mind when interpreting the findings.
“While we appreciate that Consumer Reports published some details about its methodology, we note that important context is missing: specifically how the products were selected, whether the tests reflected typical consumer use, and how their ‘levels of concern’ were derived. Without harmonization with established federal benchmarks, or even actual safety risk, such proprietary thresholds can exaggerate risk and cause unnecessary alarm,” it says Ventura.
The levels detected in the report do not necessarily represent a health hazard, he says.
“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 traces of natural elements widely found in soil, water and plants,” says Ventura.
What to Consider When Weighing the Benefits and Risks of Protein Powder
Cohen agrees, saying, “I’m just not convinced that there are many common scenarios where people need to add protein powder to their diet to be healthier. I think there’s a lot more hype than actual evidence to support that.” It suggests that people focus on meeting their protein needs through a healthy, balanced diet.
- People aged 40 and over
- Athletes, very active people or people who do weight training.
- People who experience rapid weight loss, especially from taking GLP-1 medications.
If you use protein powder, Consumer Reports recommends doing the following:
- Avoid daily use, especially plant-based or chocolate-flavored varieties.
- Choose whey- or collagen-based powders, which generally have lower levels of lead and cadmium.
- Check for third-party testing or NSF certification, which indicates compliance with independent safety standards.
- Look for transparent brands that make heavy metal test results public.
- Watch portion sizes. More powder does not necessarily mean more benefits.
