Study Finds Lead, Cadmium in Over 70% of Protein Powders

A new study by a food labeling watchdog that screened 52 brands of protein powder products for more than 130 harmful contaminants revealed that more than 50% of the powders contain detectable levels of the heavy metals lead and Cadmium and the organic compound BPA.

Published by the Clean Label Project on Tuesday, an independent lab created a sample of 134 “top selling” protein powders based on Amazon.com’s best seller list and information from Nielsen and fitness blogs.

70% of samples tested positive for detectable levels of lead, with 75% plant-based powders containing the heavy metal. The study found that 74% of the products had detectable levels of Cadmium, which is used in as a component in battery acid. Organic versions of the powders had 4.8 times more Cadmium than non-organic versions.

Researchers at Ellipse Analytics, a third-party lab used to test the materials, found that USDA-certified “organic” protein powders had over two times the amount of heavy metals versus their non-organic counterparts.

“Plant-based proteins have higher levels of heavy metals than non-plant-based protein powders,” Sean Callan, PhD, director of operations and quality at Ellipse Analytics, said in a statement. “This could be due to the locations where the protein powder manufacturers’ plant ingredients are sourced having contaminated soil. This is especially true in the United States where there may be a higher incidence of heavy metals in the soil of some regions.”

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55% of samples tested positive for BPA, a compound used in the production of plastic water bottles that is known to pose some health risks. Organic protein powders were found to have 40% less BPA in comparison to non-organic products.

“It’s horrifying to think people who are trying to eat healthier by incorporating a nutritional protein into their diet may actually be ingesting lead and BPA,” Clean Label Project’s executive director, Jackie Bowen, said in the organization’s release. “While the study revealed plenty of clean protein powder options, this study clearly showed a significant variation among top selling products.”

Overall, the study posits that protein powders made from eggs exhibited a cleaner profile than those made from plant-based sources.

To view the research, visit www.cleanlabelproject.org/protein-powder/. 

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