A recent Consumer Reports investigation revealed that most tested protein powders and shakes contain dangerously high levels of lead, with over two-thirds of 23 products exceeding safe daily limits.

Due to the health risks associated with long-term lead exposure—such as cardiovascular issues, kidney damage, and risks during pregnancy—experts recommend avoiding certain products entirely and limiting others to once a week.

Plant-based powders like Garden of Life’s Sport Organic Protein and Momentous 100% Plant Protein, along with non-plant options such as MuscleMeds’ Carnivor Mass, were found to be risky and should be consumed only infrequently.

The lack of federal regulation allows supplement manufacturers to self-test and set their own safety standards, resulting in inconsistent safety levels and minimal oversight from the FDA, which does not currently set specific limits for heavy metals in supplements.

Manufacturers often do not disclose ingredient sources, but some have announced sourcing changes or testing protocols; imported ingredients, especially from China, may pose higher contamination risks.

Some companies, like Naked Nutrition, source ingredients from suppliers that check for heavy metals and request third-party testing, though they have not confirmed the results publicly.

These findings underscore broader issues of inadequate regulation in the supplement industry, emphasizing the need for improved quality control to prevent heavy metal contamination.

The FDA recently set guidelines for lead levels in processed baby foods for the first time, indicating increased regulatory attention to heavy metal contamination in food products.

Unlike prescription drugs, dietary supplements are not reviewed or approved by the FDA before sale, prompting Consumer Reports to call for regulatory action and a petition for the FDA to establish limits on lead in protein powders and shakes.

Consumer Reports is urging the FDA to set strict, enforceable standards for lead and other heavy metals in dietary supplements, supported by a recently launched petition.

Currently, there are no federal limits specifically regulating lead content in protein powders or supplements, raising significant safety concerns.

While the FDA’s current safe limits are higher than those suggested by Consumer Reports, there is no known safe level of lead, as it is highly toxic and can cause neurological and developmental issues.

Repeated exposure to heavy metals like lead can accumulate in the body and cause serious health issues, including kidney damage, reproductive problems, and high blood pressure, especially affecting children and pregnant women.