Some protein powders and shakes analyzed by Consumer Reports contained levels of lead, a heavy metal, which experts said could increase the risk of long-term health problems.
Scientists hired by Consumer Reports, an independent U.S.-based nonprofit, tested 23 popular protein products and found lead levels ranging from zero to 7.7 micrograms per serving, above strict limits set by the state of California but below the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) standard for women of childbearing age.
There is no safe level of lead for human consumption, although it does find its way into many foods because lead is present in the environment.
Consumer Reports found that most of the plant-based protein products it tested had elevated levels of lead compared to animal-based products.
The findings raise questions about the safety of frequently taking popular supplements, as well as how they are regulated in Canada, said Lawrence Goodridge, a professor of food safety at the University of Guelph.
The findings
Consumer Reports purchased two or three samples of 23 protein products from New York stores or online retailers and tested them in a laboratory for heavy metals, including lead.
The products included plant-based, dairy-based, and meat-based protein supplements, such as protein powders and ready-to-drink protein shakes.
Lead was the main heavy metal that emerged, according to the report.
“The worst products we tested had 7.7 micrograms of lead,” Paris Martineau, an investigative journalist for Consumer Reports, said in an interview. “That’s higher than what the average American gets from everything he eats in a day. I think that’s a little surprising.”
Consumer Reports used California’s strict standard of 0.5 micrograms (μg) of lead per day for daily consumption.
Some of the shakes and protein powders tested in the US are available for Canadians to purchase online.
“These products … that Canadians are increasingly using can contain very high levels of lead and that’s concerning,” Goodridge said.
This is not the first time lead has been found in protein powders.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it has been monitoring toxic metals, including lead and cadmium, in protein powders since 2011.
In a spot check of beverages conducted in 2018-2019, protein powders were shown to have the highest average lead contamination among the products tested, although Health Canada determined those levels were not a health risk to Canadians, the CFIA said.
What does lead do to you?
No amount of lead is considered safe in food, especially in susceptible populations, Goodridge said.
The concern is not for short-term one-time use but for long-term exposure, he explained. Lead accumulates in the tissues and bones of the human body and can take decades to break down.
Too much Exposure to metal can cause serious illness. In young children, it can affect neurological development.
Adults who regularly consume products containing lead They may face cognitive decline, mood disorders, chronic kidney disease and reproductive effects, Goodridge said.
A new report from US-based Consumer Reports has identified high levels of lead in several protein powder market leaders. Lead levels are more likely to cause health problems for people who consume the powders daily.
When asked what consumers can do, Goodridge suggested:
- Eat foods to meet your protein needs.
- Limit the use of protein powder to occasional consumption and not daily.
- Susceptible people, such as children, those who are pregnant, or those who are at high risk because they are immunocompromised, should avoid protein powders unless specifically prescribed by a healthcare professional.
- Look for products that have been independently tested.
Dietitians generally advise people to get their proteins from whole foods.
How is this regulated in Canada?
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said in an email that it is responsible for monitoring chemical residues in food and how they follow Canadian regulations, while Health Canada sets the maximum level of environmental and industrial contaminants in food.
However, it is unclear whether these protein products are regulated as foods or natural health products, and Health Canada was unable to respond to CBC’s questions by deadline.
Goodridge wants Health Canada to establish guidelines for these protein powders or dietary supplements, he said.
“There are no specific federal limits for lead in protein powders or dietary supplements,” Goodridge said. “This, in my opinion, is a huge regulatory gap.”
CBC’s Ian Hanomansing speaks with registered dietitian Nicole Fetterly
Ways Lead Gets into Products
Lead is not allowed to be added to foods sold in Canada, Health Canada’s website notes.
Since the metal is common in the environment, it is present in all foods, usually at very low levels, the department said.
Lead can enter the food chain when plants absorb it from the soil or air and deposits on leaves and stems, particularly in leafy plants or legumes like peas, Goodridge said.
Plant-based powders such as peas, soybeans and rice concentrate plant material, including lead, he said.
What product manufacturers say
While Consumer Reports compared its findings to the state of California’s strict standards, the companies that commented said their products comply with U.S. or European Union federal lead regulations.
Naked Nutrition’s said its Naked Vegan Mass Gainer was the only vegan product designed to help with weight gain included in Consumer Reports testing and has a significantly larger serving size.
“When analyzed by gram, our results are consistent with other plant-based protein products,” James Clark, chief marketing officer at Naked Nutrition, said in an email.
Clark said that when the company reviewed the available information and verified the results through independent, third-party testing, it “confirmed that no heavy metals exceeded the FDA’s reference intake levels for adults, including sensitive groups such as women of childbearing age.”
Huel called the report alarmist and said its products, including the Huel Black Edition, are not currently sold in Canada. The company said its product is a nutritionally complete meal.
The magazine’s “approach reflects uniquely cautious regulation rather than an internationally accepted consumer safety measure,” Huel said in a statement.
