Over-the-counter protein supplements in the United States may contain worrying levels of lead and cadmium, with the highest amounts found in plant-based, organic and chocolate-flavored products, according to a new study published Thursday.
There is no safe level of lead for humans, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Cadmium is a carcinogen that is also toxic to the heart, kidneys, intestine, brain, and respiratory and reproductive systems, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
“On average, organic protein supplements had three times the amount of lead and twice the amount of cadmium compared to non-organic products,” says Jaclyn Bowen, executive director of the Clean Label Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transparent food labeling. who published the new report.
Plant-based supplements, such as those made from soy, rice, peas and other plants, contained three times more lead than whey-based products, according to the report. Plants naturally absorb heavy metals from the Earth’s crust, but may contain high levels if grown in soil that has been further contaminated by mining, industrial waste, and some pesticides and fertilizers.
Another important source of contamination in protein supplements was chocolate flavoring, according to the report. “Chocolate-flavored protein supplements contained four times more lead and up to 110 times more cadmium than vanilla-flavored ones,” says Bowen.
Despite being rich in flavonoids, antioxidants and other beneficial minerals, dark chocolate, or cocoa, has high levels of heavy metals. One July 2024 study found that 43% of six dozen dark chocolate products exceeded California’s Proposition 65 maximum allowable lead level of 0.5 parts per million.
“Heavy metal contamination is a global food safety problem,” says Bowen. “These contaminants are basically everywhere, including in products that are presented as healthy foods.”
The Council for Responsible Nutrition, an industry association representing supplement manufacturers, tells CNN via email that the new report did not provide sufficient transparency about the criteria used for contamination limits and how products were selected.
“Without this clarity, consumers and industry stakeholders cannot fully assess the validity of claims,” says Andrea Wong, senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at CRN.
“Modern analytical techniques can detect even trace levels of naturally present elements, such as heavy metals, which are present in soil, air and water,” explains Wong. “These trace levels are often well below the safety limits established by federal agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).”
Good news about BPA
For the new research, the Clean Label Project purchased 160 products from 70 of the best-selling protein supplement brands. However, the brands were not disclosed in the report.
“We do not disclose the names of the companies we test to maintain fairness and consistency and avoid potential conflicts of interest,” says Bowen.
The protein supplement samples were then sent to an independent certified laboratory, which performed nearly 36,000 individual tests on 258 different contaminants, including heavy metals, bisphenols, phthalates, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.
However, only levels of lead, cadmium, bisphenol A and its cousin bisphenol S, better known as BPA and BPS, were included in the 2024 report. Data on other contaminants will be released in a later update, according to Bowen.
Bisphenols are hormone disruptors that studies have linked to fetal anomalies, low birth weight, and brain and behavioral disorders in babies and children. In adults, the chemicals are linked to the development of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, erectile dysfunction, cancer and a 49% increased risk of early death within 10 years.
Bisphenol A was widely used in the manufacture of baby bottles, baby cups and infant formula containers until concerned parents boycotted these products more than a decade ago.
One similar investigation of protein supplements by Clean Label in 2018 found high levels of bisphenols The 2024 report, however, brought good news, according to Bowen. “We found BPA and BPS in just three of the 160 protein supplements, compared to 55% of the products we tested in 2018,” he says.
To analyze heavy metals, researchers from the Clean Label Project compared test results for lead and cadmium to the levels established by California’s Proposition 65.
“Prop 65 is possibly the most progressive law in the country when it comes to industrial environmental contaminants,” says Bowen. “They have very clear pass and fail criteria that are typically much more stringent than federal agencies in the US.”
Overall, 47% of 160 protein supplement samples tested by the Clean Label Project in 2024 exceeded Prop 65 regulatory guidelines, according to the report. About 21% of the supplements contained levels twice the Prop 65 limit, Bowen says.
Nearly 80% of plant-based and organic protein supplements tested were above the Prop 65 limit for lead. However, only 26% of collagen-based products and 28% of whey-based products exceeded California’s lead limit.
What consumers can do
It’s not necessary to stop using protein supplements as part of a healthy lifestyle, according to Bowen, but it helps to shop smart.
“For people following an all-plant diet, protein supplements made from peas appear to have the lowest levels of heavy metals,” he says. “If you have no dietary restrictions, the data suggests that whey or egg-based, vanilla-flavored protein supplements will have the lowest amount.”
Contacting favorite brands to ask about contaminant levels is another smart move by consumers, adds Bowen. “Ask questions, demand answers”, he advises. “The issue of heavy metals is not going to go away.”
This content was originally published in Lead and cadmium are found in US protein powders, shows study on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
I am an experienced journalist and writer with a career in the news industry. My focus is on covering Top News stories for World Stock Market, where I provide comprehensive analysis and commentary on markets around the world. I have expertise in writing both long-form articles and shorter pieces that deliver timely, relevant updates to readers.
