Consumer Reports finds lead in popular protein powders : NPR

A new report has detected lead in popular protein powders and shakes – but calls for moderation, not panic.

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A Consumer Reports investigation found what it calls “concerning” lead levels in about two dozen popular brands of protein powders — but says that’s not necessarily a reason to throw them out.

The nonprofit tested multiple samples of 23 ready-to-drink protein powders and shakes from various stores and online retailers over a three-month period beginning last November.

Their results, released Tuesday, show that more than two-thirds of products contain more lead in a single serving than what CR experts say is safe to consume in an entire day.

“Some products had a level more than 10 times higher than what our experts consider safe,” Consumer Reports reporter Paris Martineau told NPR on Wednesday.

Consumer Reports says lead levels were particularly high in plant-based protein powders — on average, nine times higher than those made from dairy proteins and twice as high as powders made from beef.

“When it comes to protein powders and shakes made from whey or dairy-based proteins, those generally had the lowest amounts of lead,” Martineau said. “But nonetheless, half of the products we tested had levels of contamination high enough that our experts recommended against taking them daily.”

Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman Emily Hilliard told NPR via email that the FDA is reviewing Consumer Reports’ findings — and other data from its various heavy metal sampling programs — “to better understand where to focus our testing efforts and enforcement activities.”

The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), a trade group representing the dietary supplement industry, released a statement Wednesday urging caution in interpreting the study results. It says modern testing methods are sensitive enough to identify traces of naturally occurring heavy metals, which alone does not pose a health risk.

“A finding that a product exceeds Consumer Reports’ self-imposed threshold is not the same as exceeding a government safety limit, nor does it constitute evidence of a consumer safety risk,” the trade group added.

Consumer Report’s study adds to a growing body of research on heavy metals found in a variety of everyday products, from cinnamon to tampons. And it’s not the first to examine protein powders: The nonprofit Clean Label Project tested 160 products from 70 brands earlier this year and found that 47 percent of them exceeded California’s Proposition 65 safety thresholds for toxic metals.

These findings come at a time when many Americans are returning to their usual habits amid a protein craze in the country.

There is no safe level of exposure to lead, which is present in many environments in which food is grown, raised and processed. But experts say the greatest risk of adverse health effects — such as reproductive problems, kidney damage and cognitive impairment — comes from repeated exposure to high doses.

Although Consumer Reports recommends against drinking a protein shake every day, it says that most of the products tested can be consumed occasionally. Even those with the highest lead levels are “well below the concentration needed to cause immediate harm,” Martineau says.

“The real risk with lead is that even if you’re exposed to fairly low levels consistently over time, that lead could somehow build up in the body and potentially cause problems later,” Martineau adds. “So I would say the advice is more, scrutinize your protein shakes and take a look at what you’re using to make an informed decision, rather than immediately panicking.”

What constitutes a level of concern?

Consumer Reports ranks the 23 powders tested into categories based on their “level of concern” for lead, which it defines as 0.5 micrograms per day. This is based on the maximum allowable dose level for lead from California Proposition 65.

As a result, the organization recommends seven products as “better choices for daily consumption” and 12 others as “okay to eat occasionally.” He advises limiting consumption of two of these powders to once a week and avoiding two others.

These are Naked Nutrition’s Mass Gainer powder, which contains 7.7 micrograms of lead per serving, and Huel’s Black Edition powder, which contains 6.3 micrograms of lead.

James Clark, director of marketing at Naked Nutrition, told NPR via email that their product is the only vegan weight gainer included in the Consumer Reports study, so its serving size is larger than other protein powders. Clark said that when considered on a per gram basis, it is “consistent with other plant-based protein products.”

Huel, a British company that makes plant-based meal replacements, has released a long FAQ refuting the Consumer Reports investigation. The FAQ explains where trace minerals like lead come from, how it tests its products, and how those results meet international standards.

He criticizes Consumer Reports for basing its comparison on Proposition 65, which he says sets an “exceptionally conservative threshold,” and asserts that “scientific evidence and real-world data show that Huel’s trace mineral levels are safe for daily consumption.”

CRN, the dietary supplement trade group, also questioned the usefulness — and potential harm — of Consumer Reports’ “level of concern” measure.

“Without harmonization with established federal benchmarks, or even actual safety risk, such proprietary thresholds can overestimate risk and cause unnecessary alarm,” he said in his statement.

However, as Consumer Reports explains in its report, there are no federal limits on the amount of heavy metals in supplements.

How are protein powders regulated?

In guidance released earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) set “interim reference levels” of 2.2 micrograms of lead per day for children and 8.8 micrograms per day for women of childbearing age. But these are target levels for industrial groups, not requirements.

The FDA regulates dietary supplements under a separate set of regulations from other food and drug products: They are not tested and their ingredients are not verified before they are sold, although the FDA can take action against “adulterated or mislabeled” supplements once they are on the market.

“While there is no action level for lead in protein powders, the FDA uses interim reference levels (IRLs) of 2.2. [micrograms]/day for children and 8.8 [micrograms]/day for women of childbearing age, respectively, to determine whether the level of lead in a particular food or dietary supplement constitutes a potential health problem and, if so, take appropriate action,” Hilliard told NPR.

It is up to each manufacturer to test for the presence of contaminants, which its members do, according to the CRN.

“When products are manufactured and tested in accordance with FDA requirements, levels of natural elements should remain within safe limits,” the release said.

Consumer Reports is calling on the FDA to establish enforceable lead limits in foods and supplements to better protect consumers.

“The FDA can take action if it discovers unsafe lead levels, but the lack of enforceable standards means it doesn’t happen enough,” Brian Ronholm, Consumer Reports’ food policy director, said in the report. “The FDA’s lack of funding and staffing is making the problem worse.”

So what should consumers do?

Consumers Report recommends avoiding any powders or shakes bearing Prop 65 warnings, which are easy to spot thanks to their all-caps “warning” labels and bright yellow triangles.

It encourages shoppers to use its recommendations when choosing between protein powders and to consider dairy-based options over plant-based ones when possible.

Consumer Reports and other nutrition experts say you don’t need to rely on protein powders to meet your goals. This macronutrient can be found in many whole foods, like Greek yogurt, nuts, legumes, and meat.

While snack companies and social media these days seem to promote anything high in protein, precise protein goals depend on your age, gender, and activity level. It looks different for everyone, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Daily Nutrition Recommendations Calculator is a good place to start.