A new report reveals concerning levels of lead and cadmium in many protein powder brands, raising health concerns. The Clean Label Project tested 160 products and found that 77% of plant-based, 79% of organic, and 65% of chocolate-flavored protein powders exceeded safety thresholds for toxic metals. The report urges consumers to be aware of potential risks and encourages checking for safer alternatives.
Protein powder has become a popular choice for individuals aiming to meet their macronutrient goals or enhance their workout performance. However, a recent report by the Clean Label Project , released on January 9th, raises concerns about the presence of potentially dangerous levels of heavy metals in many protein powder products.
The report emphasizes that despite the growing health-conscious market, numerous products might contain elevated levels of contaminants that are not disclosed on conventional nutrition labels.The study revealed that lead and cadmium were detected in a majority of the protein powders examined. Lead, a known neurotoxin, has been associated with developmental disorders and high blood pressure, while chronic cadmium exposure can lead to kidney, bone, and lung damage, as well as an increased risk of certain cancers, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Felicia Wu, PhD, a professor of food safety, toxicology, and risk assessment at Michigan State University, highlights the dangers posed by these heavy metals: 'Lead is a known neurotoxin, and cadmium has been shown to cause harmful effects to bones and kidneys.'The January 9th report only provided results for lead, cadmium, BPA, and BPS testing. Data on other contaminants will be released in a subsequent update, according to Jaclyn Bowen, executive director of the Clean Label Project, speaking to CNN. Positively, BPA and BPS were found in only three out of the 160 protein powders tested. The report, however, did not disclose the specific brands or product names of the powders containing heavy metals. 'We do not disclose the names of companies we test in order to maintain fairness and consistency and to avoid potential conflicts of interest,' Bowen stated to CNN. The report indicates that 77% of plant-based protein powders, 79% of organic protein powders, and 65% of chocolate-flavored protein powders exceeded the California Proposition 65 safety thresholds for toxic metals. Notably, plant-based protein powders, derived from rice, peas, or soy, contained three times the amount of lead compared to whey protein powders, which are produced from the liquid byproduct of cheese. Chocolate-flavored protein powders, on the other hand, contained four times more lead and up to 110 times more cadmium than vanilla-flavored powders. The study analyzed 160 products from 70 leading protein powder brands, representing 83% of the market share, according to the report. An independent certified laboratory conducted nearly 36,000 tests on 258 different contaminants for this study.The Clean Label Project has also published a list of 'the best' protein powders based on their rigorous product testing. This list features brands such as WICKED Protein, Ritual, and Needed, and can be accessed online. While the data suggests that whey- or egg-based and vanilla-flavored protein powders contain the lowest amounts of heavy metals, and vanilla-flavored pea-based protein powders appear to have the least amount of heavy metals for individuals following a plant-based diet, Wu acknowledges the difficulty in definitively stating whether protein powder consumption poses a significant risk to human health. She explains that the California Proposition 65 safety recommendations are based on daily intake amounts, but the precise daily protein powder consumption assumed by the Clean Label Project remains unclear. 'Without this more detailed information, we cannot say what the real risk to human health is,' Wu states. However, if you are concerned about heavy metal exposure from protein powders, the available data suggests that choosing whey- or egg-based and vanilla-flavored options may be the safest approach.
PROTEIN POWDER HEAVY METALS LEAD CADMIUM FOOD SAFETY CLEAN LABEL PROJECT
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