Heavy Metals Found in Popular Protein Powders

Editors’ Note: We weren’t kidding about Parmesan being a nice protein snack.

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📝 Heavy Metals Found in Popular Protein Powders

A new Consumer Reports investigation published two days ago found that many popular protein powders and shakes contain measurable amounts of lead and other heavy metals, in some cases adding more exposure than what’s considered safe for daily intake.

What they found

Consumer Reports tested 23 protein powders and ready-to-drink shakes from major retailers and online stores. Two-thirds contained detectable lead, and several surpassed what the organization calls its “Level of Concern.” That benchmark comes from California’s Proposition 65, which sets a warning threshold of 0.5 micrograms of lead per day, which is a conservative guideline meant to represent a virtually no-risk exposure level.

For perspective, the average American adult already consumes about 5.3 micrograms of lead daily from food and water, according to FDA data. The FDA’s own recommended upper limit for total lead intake is 12.5 micrograms per day for an average adult and 8.8 micrograms per day for women who plan to have children.

Two products stood out as particularly high in contamination: Huel Black Edition and Naked Nutrition Vegan Mass Gainer, which contained around 6-8 micrograms of lead per serving. That is enough to match or exceed the amount most people get from their entire diet, pushing total daily exposure close to or beyond the FDA’s recommended upper limit.

Plant-based powders, especially those made from pea, rice, and soy proteins, showed the highest contamination, while most whey-based products contained much less. Consumer Reports published the full list of tested products and their results here so we recommend checking where your powders and shakes fall on their list.

How they tested

Each product was purchased between late 2024 and early 2025 and tested in two or three separate samples at an independent accredited laboratory. Protein was measured using a validated combustion-based method.

Heavy metals including lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury were detected using high-precision mass spectrometry, sensitive enough to measure trace amounts in parts per billion.

Results were compared to health-based limits set by the EPA, California regulators, and the FDA, assuming one serving per day for a 70 kg (154 lbs) adult.

CR notes that its approach is intentionally conservative. It doesn’t claim these products are acutely toxic but identifies which ones contribute the most to daily exposure relative to public health benchmarks.

Why it happens

Heavy metals reach protein powders through the environment, not from manufacturing. Plants absorb trace elements from soil and irrigation water and those residues can persist through processing. Because dietary supplements aren’t pre-approved or batch-tested by the FDA, manufacturers aren’t required to check for contaminants before products reach shelves.

That means quality varies. Some brands routinely test and publish third-party lab results, while others provide no transparency at all.

Why you should care

Low levels of lead are common and expected in many foods, but some protein powders can add more exposure than health agencies recommend, especially with daily use. A few products in the CR test contained enough lead to push total daily intake close to or above the FDA’s recommended limit, levels still unlikely to cause harm from a single serving but probably worth subbing out.

If protein powder is part of your routine, focus on transparency and testing. Look for brands that share third-party contaminant reports or carry certifications such as NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Choice, or ConsumerLab approval. These verifications confirm that heavy-metal levels are well within accepted safety ranges. Two powders that we personally use and enjoy that thankfully have very low lead exposure are Transparent Labs and Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard.

Used thoughtfully, protein powders remain a convenient and effective way to support muscle and metabolic health. The key is choosing products that meet the same purity standards expected from the rest of the food supply.

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