While protein powders are popular among bodybuilders and weightlifters to supplement workouts, a new report has revealed they contain several shocking substances.
The Clean Label Project, a Colorado-based non-profit with the mission of bringing "truth and transparency to food and consumer product labeling", recently tested 160 products across 70 brands—roughly 83 percent of the market in the United States.
The tests found some concerning materials in the protein powders.
Nearly half (47 percent) of the protein powders tested contained dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals by California's Proposition 65 standards. The proposition requires businesses to disclose warnings about products that contain dangerous levels of chemicals that cause cancer and reproductive harm.
Most notably, the powders also showed high levels of lead and cadmium.
Organic powders were more contaminated than non-organic powders, containing three times more lead and twice as much cadmium. Plant-based powders had the highest contamination, containing five times more cadmium than whey-based products.
Chocolate-flavored powders contained significantly more lead and cadmium compared to vanilla.
"This study serves as a wake-up call for consumers, manufacturers, retailers and regulators alike," the researchers wrote in their report.
"With the lack of comprehensive federal regulations specifically addressing heavy metals in dietary supplements, it is critical that the industry independently takes proactive measures."
How the Powders are Contaminated
According to the report, the powders are contaminated in a variety of ways.
Pesticides and fertilizers often contain heavy metals, which can contaminate crops, soil and water, putting organic and plant-based powders particularly at risk.
Meanwhile, protein powder manufacturers often source ingredients from multiple suppliers across the globe. Without strict quality control, contaminated raw materials can enter the supply chain through products like rice—a common ingredient in plant-based powders—and cocoa plants, which are known to absorb more cadmium from the soil.
The United States does not have federal regulations covering heavy metals in dietary supplements. The FDA's primary focus is on microbiological and pathogen-related safety, not environmental toxins like lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury.
Risks of Heavy Metals
Heavy metals like lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury can be dangerous even in small amounts, leading to serious health concerns like neurological damage, organ dysfunction, and increased cancer risk.
Lead is especially dangerous for children—in addition to carcinogenic qualities, the metal can hinder brain development. Cadmium, meanwhile, has been linked to kidney damage and weaker bones.
In small doses, protein powders likely contain small amounts of the toxins. However, regular consumption could increase the risks over longer periods of use.
Newsweek reached out to the Clean Label Project by email on Tuesday, Jan. 21 requesting further comment.
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