Your Protein Powder May Contain 15 Times More Lead Than Experts Say Is Safe

Millions of Americans reach for a protein shake every day believing they are fueling a healthier lifestyle. A Consumer Reports investigation published in October 2025 reveals that for many of these products, each serving delivers more lead than food safety experts consider safe to consume in an entire day.

What the Testing Found

Consumer Reports tested 23 protein powders and ready-to-drink shakes from popular brands. For more than two-thirds of the products analyzed, a single serving contained more lead than CR's food safety experts say is safe to consume in a day. Some products exceeded that threshold by staggering margins.

Naked Nutrition's Mass Gainer powder contained 7.7 micrograms of lead per serving, roughly 1,570 percent of CR's level of concern. A single serving of Huel's Black Edition powder contained 6.3 micrograms of lead, approximately 1,290 percent of the daily limit. These are products marketed to health-conscious consumers, athletes, and people looking to supplement their diets.

The testing also detected other heavy metals including cadmium and arsenic across multiple products, compounding the exposure risk for daily users.

Plant-Based Products Fare Worst

The type of protein base matters significantly. Lead levels in plant-based products were, on average, nine times the amount found in dairy-based products like whey. Beef-based protein powders fell somewhere in between, with roughly twice the lead levels of dairy options.

Even among dairy-based powders and shakes, which generally performed better, half of the products tested still had lead levels high enough that CR's experts advise against daily use.

The explanation lies in how plants accumulate heavy metals. Protein sources like pea, hemp, and brown rice naturally absorb lead and other metals from the soil where they grow. The concentration process involved in turning these plants into powder further elevates the metal levels per serving.

No Federal Safety Limits Exist

Part of the problem is regulatory. The FDA has not established limits for heavy metals in dietary supplements, which face less regulatory scrutiny than conventional food products. Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, manufacturers are responsible for ensuring their products are safe, but they do not need FDA approval before selling them.

This regulatory gap means there is no federal standard that would flag a protein powder containing 15 times the recommended daily lead limit. Manufacturers can legally sell these products without testing for heavy metals at all.

Who Should Be Concerned

The risk is highest for people who consume protein supplements daily. Athletes, bodybuilders, and fitness enthusiasts who mix multiple scoops throughout the day may be accumulating lead exposure well beyond what their bodies can safely process. Elderly individuals using protein supplements to prevent muscle loss and people relying on meal replacement shakes for convenience are also at elevated risk.

Lead exposure is cumulative. The body stores lead in bones and soft tissue, and chronic low-level exposure is associated with kidney damage, high blood pressure, nervous system disruption, and cognitive decline. For pregnant women, lead can cross the placenta and affect fetal development.

How to Reduce Your Risk

Nutrition experts note that most Americans already consume sufficient protein through their regular diet without supplementation. For those who do use protein powders, several strategies can reduce heavy metal exposure.

Choosing dairy-based (whey or casein) protein powders over plant-based alternatives generally means lower lead levels. Looking for products that carry third-party testing certifications from organizations like NSF International or Informed Sport provides an additional layer of assurance. Rotating between different products and brands prevents chronic exposure from a single contaminated source.

The most reliable approach is to prioritize whole food protein sources. Eggs, Greek yogurt, chicken, fish, beans, and lentils provide protein without the concentration of heavy metals that occurs during powder processing.

Sources

1. Consumer Reports - "Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead" - October 16, 2025. https://www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein-powders-and-shakes-contain-high-levels-of-lead-a4206364640/
2. NPR - "Consumer Reports finds lead in popular protein powders" - October 16, 2025. https://www.npr.org/2025/10/16/nx-s1-5576294/protein-powder-lead-consumer-reports
3. CBS News - "Some protein powders, shakes contain high levels of lead and other metals" - October 16, 2025. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/protein-powders-shakes-lead-consumer-reports/
4. UConn Today - "Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Amounts of Lead, New Report Says" - October 2025. https://today.uconn.edu/2025/10/protein-powders-and-shakes-contain-high-amounts-of-lead-new-report-says-a-pharmacologist-explains-the-data/
5. Chemical & Engineering News - "Why scientists found lead in protein powders" - October 2025. https://cen.acs.org/food/food-ingredients/scientists-found-lead-protein-powders/103/web/2025/10