On Oct. 14, Consumer Reports (CR) published an article stating that testing of 23 protein powders and ready-to-drink shakes revealed high levels of toxic heavy metals and that two-thirds of the products contained more lead in a single serving than what its experts say is safe to consume in a day—some by more than 10 times.
CR also filed a petition urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish “strict limits” on lead in protein powders and shakes following its investigation.
According to the article, all the products met or exceeded their label claim of protein, but the detection of lead was the main concern. About 70 percent of the products contained more than 120 percent of CR’s levels for lead, which is 0.5 micrograms per day. Two products also exceeded CR’s levels for cadmium and one exceeded CR’s levels for arsenic.
The natural products industry responded to the article stating that protein powders are safe and the lead levels are well below federal limits.
NOW Health Group (Bloomingdale, IL) said protein powders are an important part of its product portfolio, and every protein ingredient goes through rigorous testing for identity, purity and safety at its ISO-accredited, in-house laboratories. The team performs more than 31,000 tests monthly.
“Trace amounts of naturally occurring metals can be found in many plant-based ingredients due to soil and environmental conditions, but these levels do not pose a health risk when products are manufactured under strict quality and safety standards,” said Katie Banaszewski, senior director of quality at NOW. “When full context is considered, protein powders are safe and beneficial. Customers shouldn’t be swayed by sensational headlines.”
According to Jim Roza, chief scientific officer at Layn Natural Ingredients (Irvine, CA), the root systems of plants, such as pea, hemp and rice can act as bioaccumulators of heavy metals such as arsenic and lead, which can lead to “significant quantities” being detected in plant-based proteins.
“Unlike Prop 65 in California, the FDA has not established specific heavy metal limits for specific products, such as dietary supplements like they do for baby food and water,” he said. “Therefore, it’s incumbent upon manufacturers and consumers alike to be aware of the dangers that heavy metals may pose in plant-based proteins because their levels are not disclosed on a supplement facts panel like other minerals because they have no nutritional value.”
The Natural Products Association (NPA) and Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) also responded.
NPA said it appreciates efforts to reduce the “inadvertent consumption of heavy metals” but the levels of lead detected are far below amounts present in many foods including certain fruits and vegetables.
A 2020 analysis published in Toxicology Reports suggested that typical intake of protein powder dietary supplements would not result in adverse health effects due to heavy metals, NPA said.
“Responsible supplement makers including those who belong to NPA are already going above and beyond what the law requires,” said Daniel Fabricant, PhD, president and CEO of NPA. “Meanwhile, Consumer Reports is using scare headlines to undermine the credibility of a $70 billion+ industry built on transparency, safety and science.”
CRN said it supports “rigorous science-based evaluation” of dietary supplements and functional foods, but “urges caution” when interpreting the results from the article. Although the report provided some methodology, CRN said there is important context missing—namely how products were selected, whether testing reflected typical consumer use and how “levels of concern” were derived.
According to CRN, CR’s use of “internal level of concern” benchmarks—which are standards not recognized by any regulators—creates a “misleading impression of risk.” If a product exceeds a self-imposed threshold, that is not necessarily the same as exceeding a government safety limit nor evidence of safety risks.
“The mere detection of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, or arsenic does not equate to a health hazard,” CRN said. “Modern testing methods are extraordinarily sensitive and capable of identifying trace amounts of naturally occurring elements that are found broadly in soil, water, and plants. Supplement manufacturers are already required under federal Good Manufacturing Practices to test for contaminants and ensure compliance with federal standards.”
