Protein Powders Have High Lead Levels. Here’s How to Bulk Up Safely.

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The American protein powder business has grown into the multibillions. As Americans look to supplement their workouts and protein intake, they are increasingly turning to these protein-dense powders. However, a recent study found protein powders contain dangerous levels of lead, but there is hope.

The Lead in Protein Powder

Consumer Reports has been running studies of protein powders for about 15 years. Its most recent study tested 23 protein powders and ready-to-drink shakes from well-known brands. As in its past study, the organization found high levels of heavy metals.

As noted in the report, more than two out of three of the products they analyzed contained levels of lead that experts say exceed what is “safe to consume in a day — some by more than 10 times.” These results, they say, are worse than 15 years ago.

“It’s concerning that these results are even worse than the last time we tested,” said Tunde Akinleye, the CR food safety researcher who led the testing project. Not only were the levels of lead higher, but there were fewer products with undetectable amounts.

Consumer Reports also claims Naked Nutrition’s Vegan Mass Gainer powder is among the worst offenders. The organization writes, “Naked Nutrition’s Vegan Mass Gainer powder, the product with the highest lead levels, had nearly twice as much lead per serving as the worst product we analyzed in 2010.”

Contrary to what consumers would think, almost all plant-based products tested by Consumer Reports had excessive lead levels. Two of them were so polluted that Consumer Reports recommended against using them. “A single serving of these protein powders contained between 1,200 and 1,600 percent of CR’s level of concern for lead, which is 0.5 micrograms per day.”

Protein Powders by Safety

According to Consumer Reports, “The lead levels in plant-based products were, on average, nine times the amount found in those made with dairy proteins like whey, and twice as great as beef-based ones.”

As for dairy-based protein powders and shakes alike, they had the lowest amount of lead. Still, half of the products are recommended against because they had high levels of lead.

Muscle Tech 100% Mass Gainer was found to contain no lead. Consumer Reports provides guidance on which products are safe to consume and how often. While some have daily or weekly limit recommendations, Muscle Tech has none concerning lead, since it is lead-free.

For a more complete guide on the safest protein powders to bulk up with, read the full report here.

The Takeaway

Consumer Reports has found lead in protein powders after conducting a study. The organization also found the problem with lead in these products has gotten worse since their last study 15 years ago. The biggest offenders are plant-based, but dairy-based products have lead contamination problems as well. Muscle Tech 100% Mass Gainer had no detectable levels of lead. For the whole list, visit ConsumerReports.Org. Bulk up safely.

FOLLOW the author and educator Jermaine Reed, MFA on X @Jermaine Reed, MFA for his controversial but real hot takes.