Report finds that your protein shake may be full of lead

Your post-workout protein shake may come with some hidden dangerous ingredients. A new report finds that a large percentage of over-the-counter protein powders contain unsafe levels of lead and other toxic metals.

Researchers at the nonprofit Clean Labels Project conducted the study He studieswhich tested dozens of consumer protein powder brands. Of the 160 products tested, 47% contained levels of lead, cadmium and other toxic metals that exceeded the safety threshold set by Proposition 65, a 1986 California law that regulates exposure to more than 900 substances within the state. According to the report, organic, vegan, and chocolate-based protein powders were more likely to contain these minerals than other brands.

Although overall lead exposure has decreased significantly since the 1970s (thanks in large part to the phasing out of lead-filled gasoline), there are still some consumer products known to be more susceptible to contamination. A Study last summerFor example, it found that nearly half of all cocoa products, especially dark chocolate, may contain unsafe levels of lead. Researchers with the Clean Labels Project decided to test a wide range of protein supplement products for lead, cadmium, and other metals.

The researchers purchased and tested 160 protein powder products across 70 different best-selling brands, which are said to represent 83% of the market. In addition to the 47% of products that exceeded Proposition 65 levels of lead and other metals, 21% were found to contain lead levels twice the Proposition 65 limit. About 65% of powders containing chocolate contained high levels of lead. 77% of vegetable powders contain high levels of lead; And 79% of organic powders contained high levels of lead, including 41% of products with lead levels double the limit in Proposition 65. These types of products were also more likely to contain cadmium than other brands.

“The study findings highlight that despite a growing health-conscious market, many products may contain elevated levels of contaminants that are not reflected in conventional nutrition labels,” the report authors wrote. The report declines to list specific brands that were found to contain lead and other metals, though it notes that whey and collagen-based powders were less likely to be contaminated with them.

The safety thresholds for lead and other substances set by Prop 65 are much more stringent than those used by other organizations, including the Food and Drug Administration. Other research has Also suggested Average exposure to heavy metals from taking protein powder supplements is unlikely to cause adverse health effects in people, such as a higher risk of cancer. At the same time there is no Really safe level Exposure to lead: Exposure to lead early in life is known to increase the risk of cancer Development issues. The authors say their report is intended to serve as a “wake-up call to consumers, manufacturers, retailers and regulators alike.”

There was at least one silver lining to the results. Levels of bisphenols — hormone-disrupting chemicals believed to negatively affect people’s health — in protein powders have declined dramatically over the years. Only about 2% of products (3 out of 160) tested positive for these chemicals in this latest report, compared to 55% of products the organization tested as part of a similar report in 2018.