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Commercially available protein powders may contain alarming levels of lead and cadmium, with the highest concentrations found in organic, plant-based products and chocolate-flavored products, according to a new study. .
According to , there is no safe level of lead for humans. US Environmental Protection Agency. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, cadmium is a carcinogen and is also toxic to the body’s heart, kidneys, intestines, brain, respiratory system, and reproductive system. Occupational safety and health management.
“On average, organic protein powders contained three times more lead and twice as much cadmium as non-organic products,” says Jaclyn. Secretary-General Bowen said: clean label projectreleased by a nonprofit organization specializing in transparent food labels. new report Thursday.
The report said plant-based powders, such as powders made from soy, rice, peas and other plants, contained three times more lead than whey-based products. (Whey is a liquid byproduct of cheese making.)
Plants naturally absorb heavy metals from the earth’s crust, but when soil grows in contaminated soil, heavy metal content can increase. more contaminated It is produced by mining, industrial waste, and some pesticides and fertilizers.
Another major source of contamination in protein powders is chocolate flavoring, according to the report.
“Chocolate-flavored protein powders contained four times more lead and up to 110 times more cadmium than vanilla-flavored powders,” Bowen said.
Dark chocolate, or cacao, is known to contain high levels of heavy metals, even though it is rich in flavonoids, antioxidants, and other beneficial minerals. a Survey for July 2024 Forty-three percent of six dozen dark chocolate products were found to exceed California’s Proposition 65 maximum allowable lead dose level of 0.5 ppm.
“Heavy metal contamination is a global food safety issue,” Bowen said. “These contaminants are basically everywhere, even in foods that are considered health foods.”
The Council for Responsible Nutrition, an industry group representing supplement manufacturers, told CNN in an email that the new report doesn’t provide enough transparency about the criteria used for contamination thresholds or how products are selected. .
“Without such clarity, consumers and industry participants will not be able to fully assess the validity of the claims,” said Andrea Wong, senior vice president of science and regulation at CRN.
“Modern analytical techniques can detect even trace amounts of naturally occurring elements such as heavy metals in soil, air and water,” Wong said. “These trace levels are often far below established safety thresholds set by federal agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).”
For the new study, the Clean Label Project purchased 160 products from 70 of the best-selling protein powder brands. However, the brand was not disclosed in the report.
“In order to maintain fairness and consistency, and to avoid potential conflicts of interest, we will not publish the names of the companies tested,” Bowen said.
Protein powder samples are then sent to independent, certified laboratories for approximately 36,000 individual tests for 258 different contaminants, including heavy metals, bisphenols, phthalates, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). was carried out.
However, lead, cadmium, Bisphenol A The 2024 report included its cousin bisphenol S, commonly known as BPA and BPS. Data on other contaminants will be released in future updates, Bowen said.
Research has shown that bisphenols are hormone disruptors. fetal abnormalitylow birth weight, and Brain and behavioral disorders in infants and children. In adults, the chemical has been associated with the development of symptoms such as: type 2 diabetes, heart disease, erectile dysfunction, cancer and a 49% higher risk of premature death within 10 years.
Bisphenol A was widely used in the production of baby bottles, sippy cups, and infant formula containers until horrified parents boycotted these products more than a decade ago.
a Similar research In 2018, Clean Label found high levels of bisphenols in protein powders. But the 2024 report contained some good news, Bowen said.
“BPA and BPS were found in only three out of 160 protein powders compared to 55% of the products tested in 2018,” she said.
To analyze heavy metals, Clean Label Project researchers compared test results for lead and cadmium to levels set by California’s Proposition 65.
“Proposition 65 is probably the most progressive legislation in this country when it comes to industrial environmental pollutants,” Bowen said. “They have very clear pass/fail criteria, and they are usually much more stringent than federal agencies in the United States.”
Overall, 47% of the 160 protein powder samples tested by the Clean Label Project in 2024 exceeded Prop 65 regulatory guidelines, the report said. About 21% of the powder contained concentrations twice the Prop 65 limit, Bowen said.
Almost 80% of the plant-based and organic protein powders tested exceeded Prop 65 limits for lead. However, only 26% of collagen-based protein products and 28% of whey-based products exceeded California’s lead limit.
Bowen said you don’t have to stop using protein powder as part of a healthy lifestyle, but it can help you shop wisely.
“For people following an entirely plant-based diet, protein powders made from peas seem to have the lowest levels of heavy metals,” she says. “If you have no dietary restrictions, data suggests that whey-based or egg-based vanilla-flavored protein powders are the least likely to be consumed.”
Bowen added that contacting your favorite brands to ask about contaminant levels is also a smart move by consumers.
“Ask questions and demand answers,” she said. “The topic of heavy metals is not going away.”
