Lead Found in Popular Protein Powders

Name: Gluten-Free Pumpkin Spice Muffins
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 70 min
Yield: 15
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: all-purpose gluten-free flour; baking powder; baking soda; cinnamon; ground ginger; salt; ground nutmeg; ground cloves; canned pumpkin; mashed banana; maple syrup; Canola oil; plain Greek yogurt; vanilla extract; large eggs; unsweetened coconut flakes; raisins; chopped walnuts

Colleen Woods, MS, RDN, CLC
Oct 25
5 min read

Consumer Reports just released test results of heavy metals testing on popular protein powders. Beware- a majority of the protein powders tested contained more lead than Consumer Reports experts feel “is safe to consume in a day—some by more than 10 times,” says Paris Martineua, author of the Consumer Reports article that revealed the results.

black contain of generic protein powder on top of loose protein powder

Why is Lead Bad for You?

The problem with lead is that no amount is safe. It affects brain and nervous system development, the immune system, the reproductive system, can cause kidney damage, result in behavioral and learning problems, and even lead to high blood pressure. Its effects are more pronounced and dangerous to children and pregnant women.

Having recognized its side effects and its widespread use in paints, gas, and even cosmetics, in 1978 the federal government banned lead-based paints. Gas stations started promoting “unleaded gas,” and warnings were given to renters who would be moving into a home that may contain lead.

Sadly, lead is being found in many products and our environment again. From children’s toys, to spices, to our soil, and yes, still cosmetics and jewelry, lead is a problem. For children who put a lot of things in their mouths, lead poisoning can be a reality. We’ve seen children with high lead levels increase at WIC over the past few years.

How Does Lead Get Into Food?

To find lead in food products is especially concerning. Lead can get into protein powders and other foods through a variety of ways.

First, if it’s plant-based, or even animal-based where the animals are eating plants grown in lead-rich soil, lead levels in the ground can be found in the final product. Plants absorb whatever’s in the soil. That’s one reason heavy metals are now being found in jarred baby foods as well as canned, fresh, and frozen fruits and veggies.

Lead can also come from the water. Whether the water used to hydrate the animals and plants, or water added during the processing of the food, it can contribute to increased lead levels in the final product if it's contaminated.

The manufacturing process could potentially contaminate the food as well. Machinery and additives may contain lead particles or other heavy metals.

Consumer Reports indicates that the majority of pea protein has historically come from China. The FDA rarely audits foreign supplement makers. The FDA largely leaves it up to companies to determine what could be harmful in their supplements and asks them to do their own testing. Good luck to consumers who roll the dice and hope what the ingredient label says is true and that their protein powders are not contaminated.

Below is the list of protein powders tested by Consumer Reports, the lead levels found in each, and action you should take if you've purchased the protein powder. We also share what you can do to prevent and treat lead poisoning.

Lead in Protein Powders

Protein Powder	CR's Level of Concern for Lead PER SERVING	Action to Take
Naked Nutrition Vegan Mass Gainer Vanilla	1572%	AVOID
Huel Black Edition Chocolate	1288%	AVOID
Garden of Life Sport Organic Plant-Based Protein Vanilla	564%	Limit to 1 ¼ servings per week
Momentous 100% Plant Protein¹ Chocolate Flavor	476%	Limit to 1 ½ servings per week
MuscleMeds Carnivor Mass Chocolate Peanut Butter	247%	Limit to 2 ¾ servings per week
Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass² Vanilla	202%	Limit to 3 ½ servings per week
Quest Protein Shake Chocolate	161%	Limit to 4 1/3 servings per week
Orgain Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder Vanilla Bean	143%	Limit to 4 ¾ servings per week
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Protein Shake Chocolate	150%	Limit to 4 2/3 servings per week
Equip Foods Prime Protein Chocolate	144%	Limit to 4 ¾ servings per week
PlantFusion Complete Protein Creamy Vanilla Bean	140%	Limit to 5 servings per week
Ensure Plant-Based Protein Nutrition Shake Chocolate	132%	Limit to 5 1/3 servings per week
Muscle Milk Pro Advanced Nutrition Protein Shake Chocolate	128%	Limit to 5 ½ servings per week
KOS Organic Superfood Plant Protein Vanilla	112%	Limit to 6 ¼ servings per week
Owyn Pro Elite High Protein Shake Chocolate	88%	Limit to 1 serving per day
Transparent Labs Mass Gainer Sweet Vanilla	87%	Limit to 1 serving per day
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Chocolate	56%	Limit to 1 ¾ servings per day
BSN Syntha-6 Protein Powder Vanilla Ice Cream	46%	Limit to 2 servings per day
Momentous Whey Protein Isolate¹ Vanilla Flavor	30%	Limit to 3 1/3 servings per day
Dymatize Super Mass Gainer Gourmet Vanilla	25%	Limit to 4 servings per day
Muscle Tech 100% Mass Gainer Vanilla Milkshake	No lead detected	No limit

Getting Enough Protein

It is not recommended for the general public to have any protein supplement more than two to three times per week. Protein should come first from food, and only those who have special high protein requirements should consider supplementing on a regular basis.

Most Americans can get their recommended amount of protein daily from food, even vegetarians and vegans. If you’d like a protein assessment, or are struggling to get sufficient protein, make an appointment at ZESTNutritionService.com.

Preventing Lead Exposure

For families with small children, it’s a good idea to wipe dust off windowsills, railings, doorknobs, and the floor with a wet cloth often if the house may contain lead paint particles (built before 1978).
Wash children’s hands after playing outside.
Try to avoid having children put toys made in China in their mouths.
Do not eat tamarind flavored candies (popular in Mexico).
Have glazed cookware/pottery/crystal dishes tested for lead before cooking or serving food from them.
Remove shoes upon entering the house.
Home-based lead test kits are not reliable. If you suspect lead in your home, in certain products like cosmetics or toys, or around your home as a result of a construction site or peeling exterior paint, ask your county lead inspector to complete a test for you.

Lead Treatment

If someone in your family exhibits strange behavior and there’s reason to believe they may have ingested, inhaled, or been exposed to lead, a simple blood test can confirm lead poisoning.

Lead poisoning is serious. There is little treatment available for lead poisoning, however, some things you can do include:

Increase foods rich in calcium. Calcium from foods like dairy products, leafy greens, broccoli, tofu, and almonds/almond milk can decrease lead levels in the blood.
Increase foods rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, strawberries, red bell peppers, broccoli, cabbage, and potatoes. Vitamin C also helps to lower lead levels in the blood.
Increase foods rich in iron. Iron-rich foods like animal foods (beef, chicken, fish, pork), eggs, beans, lentils, tofu, and leafy greens can help lead levels go down.

Although small amounts of lead may be found in our foods, generally these foods listed above will have sufficient nutrients to counteract the lead effects in the blood. The best advice is to vary the foods you eat between brands, organic and conventional, and jarred/fresh/canned/frozen. Variation ensures no one food can contribute high levels of heavy metals to our bodies.