Ten out of eleven popular protein powders recently tested have levels of toxic lead that would trigger a health warning in California, according to a new report from Mamavation.
And that’s just the start of the problems.
Partnering with EHN.org, the environmental wellness blog and community had 11 chocolate-flavored protein powders tested by a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-certified lab. The testing included more than 40 PFAS types, more than 500 pesticides, lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury. While no products contained detectable mercury or arsenic, the testing found some protein powders contained cadmium, glyphosate, PFAS and phthalates.
Only one of the products, Paleovalley 100% Grassfed Bone Broth Protein (chocolate flavor), tested free of all the contaminants tested.
The testing found:
- 10 products had levels of lead that would require a warning in California under Prop. 65, the state’s law alerting consumers to harmful pollutants.
- Two products had levels of cadmium that would require a Prop. 65 warning.
- One product contained the pesticide glyphosate, despite being labeled organic.
- Six products contained PFAS chemicals.
- Seven products contained phthalates.
The levels of lead, for instance, ranged from 0.78 parts per million (ppm) per serving to 1.78 ppm per serving — so all 10 products with lead exceeded the daily health threshold in California (.5 ppm of lead) that triggers a warning to consumers. While this falls below the Food and Drug Administration’s guidelines that heavy metals such as lead should not be in food supplements at more than 10 ppm, scientists agree there is no “safe” level of lead. In addition, the FDA does not evaluate the labeling and safety of dietary supplements such as protein powders, instead leaving it up to manufacturers.
Mamavation’s testing is not the first to find concerning compounds in protein powder. A 2018 investigation by the Clean Label Project tested 134 protein powders and found 70% contained lead, 74% contained cadmium and 55% contained bisphenol-A (BPA).
The results are concerning as the contaminants are linked to myriad health issues. Lead and cadmium are linked to neurological impairment, lower IQ, cardiovascular problems, kidney and liver issues among other effects. Phthalates are linked to hormone disruption, fertility impacts, low birth weights, obesity, diabetes, some cancers, brain and behavioral problems, and other health issues. PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, contribute to cancer, reproductive and immune systems damages, elevated cholesterol and other health issues. And glyphosate is linked to cancer, reproductive problems, neurological diseases like ALS, endocrine disruption, and birth defects.
“I’m very disappointed in the protein powder category. So many people, including pregnant women, rely heavily on protein powder every day,” Linda S. Birnbaum, scientist emeritus and former director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program, scholar in residence at Duke University, and adjunct professor at the University of North Carolina and Yale University, told Mamavation.
“Knowing what we know now about these premium brands, you can safely assume protein powders are potential sources of many contaminants like PFAS, lead, and phthalates,” she added.
The testing included popular brands such as Vega, Truvani and Just Ingredients. For the full list of which protein powders contained toxics, check out the report at Mamavation.
And check out the ongoing effort by Mamavation and EHN.org to identify PFAS in common consumer products. Follow our PFAS testing project with Mamavation at the series landing page.