Lead Found in Some Popular Brands of Protein Powder: Should Athletes Be Concerned?
by Melinda Burris
Recent news reports have highlighted concerns about lead contamination in protein powders, particularly those popular among athletes and fitness enthusiasts. In October 2025, Consumer Reports published a major investigation testing 23 popular protein powders and shakes, finding that more than two-thirds contained more lead in a single serving than their experts consider safe for daily consumption (italics mine).
The baseline for concern is 0.5 micrograms of lead per day, based on California’s strict Proposition 65 standards. Some products exceeded this by more than 10 times, with the highest levels found in certain plant-based options, including Naked Nutrition’s Vegan Mass Gainer, which showed lead levels of as much as 7.7 micrograms per helping. Huel’s Black Edition was found to contain as much as 6.3 micrograms of lead/serving.
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This builds on earlier findings from the Clean Label Project, which conducted a study early last year testing 160 products made and distributed by 70 top-selling brands, accounting for 83% of the U.S. protein powder supplement market (italics mine), which revealed that close to half of the products tested—47% of protein powder supplements—exceed the percentage of lead deemed acceptable by the standards set forth in California Proposition 65 as safe to ingest amounts of ingredients classified as toxic metals—such as lead.
Interestingly, protein powders that met the criteria to be labeled as organic contained, on average, three times more lead than non-organic, plant-based options, with three times more lead detected in these varieties compared to whey-based formulas. This finding must be disturbing to consumers who choose organic food options, seeking the healthiest alternatives possible.
Chocolate lovers were also at a disadvantage, as chocolate-flavored protein powder varieties were found to contain four times as much lead contamination as vanilla-flavored protein powders tested.
Why Plant-based Options Are More Susceptible to High Levels of Lead Contamination
Lead and other contaminants are often naturally present in the soil from which crops, including common primary plant-based protein powder ingredients such as peas, rice, and soy, originate. Lead and other contaminants enter the natural food supply as vegetation absorbs nutrients and other ingredients from the soil during environmental element absorption and product development processes.
It is natural for plant-based produce to uptake these metals, which are found within the ground/soil; so, it makes sense that these non-animal-based protein powder supplements would have a higher percentage of metals and other additives found in the ground due to the use of even natural pesticides. It is important to understand that true organic farming methods avoid the use of dangerous pesticides but are still susceptible to higher levels of heavy metals found in the soil.
What Are the Risks of Consumption of These Metals on a Regular Basis?
Scientific research has long concluded that lead exposure is unsafe and poses several risks to human health. Studies demonstrate that lead and other toxins should be avoided as none of these substances is believed to be completely safe. Long-term exposure to these elements, even in small amounts, is dangerous, as research shows they tend to accumulate in the body over time. This puts regular consumers at an elevated risk of developing serious health conditions over time. Common health conditions that are known to develop based on chronic consumption of these harmful ingredients include high blood pressure, kidney damage, neurological and reproductive issues that can make conceiving difficult.
Competitive and elite athletes are considered high-risk for developing health conditions, as it is not uncommon for these individuals to consume multiple servings of protein powder each day as part of their quest to build muscle groups in key areas that must be strong and well-developed to ensure they can compete successfully.
Questions Remain
Consensus as to whether and to what extent regular consumers of protein powders should be concerned about potential adverse side effects is far from settled. Rather, the discussion about lead found in certain protein powders and the dangers it may pose is frequently categorized as “nuanced.” In its conclusion on the subject and findings to date, Consumer Reports recommends that athletes and others who regularly consume protein powders that have been shown to contain elevated levels of lead proceed with caution.
Suggestions include noting the variations and brands known to contain high levels of lead and cutting down on consumption by limiting ingestion of these products to once per week to reduce the likelihood of developing serious health problems.
The study findings have led to a call for the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to monitor the amount of lead found in protein powders and for the establishment of federal limits on how much lead can be included in these supplements, which, at present, are available on the market with no governmental oversight or constraints, merely recommendations that people self-regulate how much of these products they consume.
It is important to bear in mind that protein powders, like all other forms of nutritional supplements, are not subject to enforceable federal mandates limiting how much a person can purchase or consume. On the other hand, some argue that the issue and its accompanying concerns are overblown. As is often the case, scientific studies on the matter contradict one another, with some research findings concluding that the risks of serious health concerns from high consumption of protein powders known to contain high lead doses are minimal.
Conclusion
While more studies are conducted in hopes of arriving at a general consensus on the matter, most experts urge caution and limiting consumption of protein powders known to contain high levels of lead, choosing whole foods or whey protein powders until more research and a basis for a definitive conclusion are available.
References:
- Consumer Reports. (14 October 2025; updated 2026). Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead.
- Clean Label Project. (2025). 2024-25 Protein Powder Category Report.
- The New York Times. (14 October 2025). Lead Found in Popular Protein Powders and Shakes, Report Says.
- (16 October 2025). Consumer Reports Finds Lead in Popular Protein Powders.
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