What the new Consumer Reports investigation actually means..
Hi Reader👋
I wanted to share something important that came up this week, especially for anyone who uses protein powders regularly.
Consumer Reports recently tested 23 popular protein powders and shakes and found that several contained measurable levels of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and arsenic. The issue was most common in plant-based powders, particularly those made with pea protein.
The headlines sounded alarming, but after digging deeper, the findings are a bit more nuanced.
So in short, I'm not worried (and you don't need to be worried either) unless you are consuming excessively high amounts of vegan protein powders every single day which I'd like to think no one here does...🤞
🧪 What Consumer Reports actually found
Consumer Reports used 0.5 micrograms (µg) of lead per day as their “level of concern.”
That benchmark comes from California’s Proposition 65, one of the most conservative standards in the world.
So when you see headlines saying a product was “1,500% above their level of concern,” it sounds dramatic — but that comparison is against an extremely strict threshold, not an official federal or EU safety limit.
For example, one of the products tested (Naked Nutrition Vegan Mass Gainer) contained about 7.7 µg of lead per serving. BUT NOTE that one serving is considered six scoops, not the usual one scoop most people use. That exceeds CR’s benchmark, but it doesn’t automatically mean it’s unsafe for occasional use.
⚖️ How health authorities view lead exposure
In Europe, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) no longer sets a “safe daily limit” for lead because there may be no threshold below which there is zero risk, particularly for pregnancy, fertility, and child development.
Instead, EFSA uses benchmark dose levels (BMDL) to estimate risk:
- Developmental neurotoxicity in children: 0.50 µg/kg body weight per day
- Cardiovascular effects in adults: 1.50 µg/kg b.w./day
- Kidney effects: 0.63 µg/kg b.w./day
For reference, a 60 kg adult (about 130 lbs) would exceed the lowest benchmark at roughly 30 µg of lead per day from all sources (food, water, supplements, and environment) combined.
So while the levels in protein powders are measurable, they’re not typically dangerous for most healthy adults using them occasionally. The concern grows with daily use, multiple servings, or in vulnerable groups (pregnant women, those trying to conceive, and children).
🌱Why plant-based powders test higher
Lead and other metals naturally occur in soil, air, and water, which means plants (especially peas, rice, and hemp) can absorb trace amounts as they grow.
When those plants are processed into powder, those traces can become more concentrated.
This is why plant-based powders tend to have higher levels than whey or casein. It’s not that they’re “toxic,” just that sourcing and testing matter more.
It’s also true that it’s impossible to avoid all lead completely. It’s naturally present in soil, air, and water, which means trace amounts end up in many foods, especially plants. But plants are good for us, so we should still eat them!
The goal isn’t to eliminate it entirely (which isn’t realistic), but to keep overall exposure as low as reasonably possible.
My take as a dietitian
This isn’t about immediate danger, but it does highlight why third-party testing and moderation matter.
I’ve previously recommended and have used personally Naked Whey, which is under the same brand of one of the products called into question. I'm not immediately concerned as this product carries the Informed Choice certification, but I always want to advocate for you and give you safe, evidence-based options.
So what protein powder should you choose?
Firstly, do you need it? If you already get enough protein from food, powders are just a convenience, not a necessity.
But if you are choosing a protein powder, I always recommend choosing a brand that carries the NSF certified or Informed Sport Logo. You can search on the Informed Sport Website here or the NSF website here.
Animal-based protein powders like whey and casein tend to have lower levels of heavy metals.
But if you prefer a plant-based option, there are still choices. For example:
Ritual Essential Protein Daily Shake and Form Performance Protein. These are both plant-based, Informed Sport Certified and test for heavy metals.
What else can you do?
✅ Get most of your protein from food.
Greek yogurt, eggs, chicken, fish, lentils, beans, and tofu give you all the amino acids you need, no lab testing required.
✅ Vary your sources.
Rotating protein types (whey, pea, soy, hemp, or food-based) reduces exposure to any one contaminant.
✅ Check your water.
Lead exposure also comes from plumbing and tap water. Using a certified lead-removing filter can lower your total daily exposure even more.
If your still concerned send me a message back and I'll see if I can help 💚
You can read the full Consumer Reports article here.
Talk soon,
Maria 💚
Registered Dietitian
