Two-thirds of protein powders exceed safe lead levels, CR finds

A new Consumer Reports investigation released this week found that more than two thirds of 23 popular protein powders and ready-to-drink shakes contained levels of lead in a single serving that exceeded what the organization’s food safety experts consider safe for daily consumption. The testing, conducted on samples purchased from retailers over a three-month period beginning in November 2024, identified plant-based powders as the most likely to contain elevated lead, and recommended that two products be avoided entirely.

Consumer Reports analyzed multiple samples of 23 dairy, beef and plant-based protein supplements for heavy metals including lead, cadmium and inorganic arsenic. The nonprofit said roughly 70 percent of products contained more lead per serving than its level of concern, set at 0.5 micrograms of lead per day. Several products exceeded that benchmark by more than 10 times. Two plant-based powders were singled out: one product contained 7.7 micrograms of lead per serving, or about 15 times Consumer Reports’ daily limit, and another contained 6.3 micrograms, about 13 times the limit. Three products also surpassed concern levels for cadmium and inorganic arsenic.