• April Rubin

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Chocolate protein powders contained up to 110 times more cadmium than vanilla-flavored powders, according to the Clean Label Project report from Jan. 9. Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

Nearly half of some of the most popular protein powders have levels of heavy metals like lead that exceed government food safety regulations, a consumer safety nonprofit said in its report Thursday.

Why it matters: No level of lead exposure is safe, per the Environmental Protection Agency, but regulation of heavy metals in food isn’t uniform.

• Arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury were all found in protein powders studied by the Clean Label Project.

By the numbers: 47% of products exceeded at least one federal or state guideline.

• Researchers tested 160 products from 70 of the top-selling brands, representing 83% of the market.

The intrigue: Organic products showed higher levels of heavy metal contamination, with three times more lead and twice the amount of cadmium than non-organic products.

• Plant-based protein powders showed three times more lead than whey-based alternatives. Plants can easily absorb metals directly from the soil, including from fertilizers.
• Chocolate-flavored powders contained four times more lead than vanilla and up to 110 times more cadmium.

The other side: Researchers found a significant improvement in the levels of bisphenols, including BPA and BPS, since a 2018 study.

• BPA and BPS, known endocrine disruptors, were detected in three of 160 protein powder products, compared to 55% in previous tests.

How it works: Contaminants reach protein powder via packaging and soil where the ingredients are grown.

What they’re saying: “This study serves as a wake-up call for consumers, manufacturers, retailers, and regulators alike,” researchers said in the report.

• “With the lack of comprehensive federal regulations specifically addressing heavy metals in dietary supplements, it is critical that the industry independently takes proactive measures.”
• The protein supplement market size was nearly $9.7 billion in 2023, according to the report

What they did: Clean Label Project collaborated with an analytical chemistry lab to study 35,862 data points.

• They tested heavy metals and bisphenols, which are used to make plastic.

Go deeper: Study finds toxic metals present in popular tampons