Consumer Reports finds lead in popular protein powders: NPR

A Consumer Reports investigation found what it called “alarming” levels of lead in nearly two dozen popular protein powder brands — but says that’s not necessarily a reason to toss them.

The nonprofit tested multiple samples of 23 ready-to-drink protein powders and shakes from a range of stores and online retailers over a three-month period beginning last November.

results, Published on Tuesdaymore than two-thirds of products were found to contain more lead in a single serving than Consumer Reports experts say is safe to consume in an entire day.

“Some products contain more than 10 times the level that our experts say is safe,” Consumer Reports reporter Paris Martino told NPR on Wednesday.

Consumer Reports says lead levels were particularly high in plant-based protein powders — on average, nine times higher than those made from dairy proteins and twice as high as those made from beef powders.

“When it comes to protein powders and shakes made with whey proteins or dairy products, they generally contain the lowest amounts of lead,” Martino said. “But still half of the products we tested had high enough levels of contamination that our experts advised against eating them daily.”

The FDA is reviewing consumer reporting results — and other data from its various heavy metal sampling programs — “to better inform where to focus our testing efforts and enforcement activities,” Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman Emily Hilliard told NPR via email.

The Council for Responsible Nutrition, a trade group representing the dietary supplement industry, Issue a statement On Wednesday, he urged caution in interpreting the study results. She says modern testing methods are sensitive enough to identify trace amounts of naturally occurring heavy metals, and that alone does not equate to a health risk.

“Finding that a product exceeds Consumer Reports’ self-imposed threshold does not mean a government safety limit has been exceeded, nor is it evidence of any risk to consumer safety,” the trade group added.

The Consumer Reports study adds to a growing body of research on heavy metals in a variety of everyday products, from cinnamon to tampons. And it’s not the first to examine protein powders: the nonprofit Clean label project It tested 160 products from 70 brands earlier this year and found that 47% exceeded California’s Proposition 65 safety threshold for toxic metals.

These results come at a time when many Americans are doing part of their usual routine amid the country’s protein craze.

there There is no known safe level Exposure to lead is found in many environments where food is grown, raised, and processed. But experts say the greatest risk of adverse health effects — such as reproductive problems, kidney damage and cognitive impairment — comes from repeated exposure to high doses.

While Consumer Reports advises against drinking a protein shake every day, it says that the bulk of the products it tested are fine to have once in a while. Even those with the highest levels of lead are “well below the concentration needed to cause immediate damage,” Martino says.

“The real danger with lead is that even if you are exposed to consistently low levels over time, that lead can build up in the body and eventually cause problems in the future,” Martino adds. “So I would say the advice is more, audit your protein shakes and take a look at what you’re using to make an informed decision, rather than panicking right away.”

What constitutes an alarming level?

Consumer Reports sorts the 23 powders tested into categories based on the “level of concern” for lead, which it defines as 0.5 micrograms per day. This is based on California’s Proposition 65 maximum permissible dose level for lead.

Accordingly, the organization recommends seven products as “better choices for daily consumption” and another 12 products as “ok to eat occasionally.” It is recommended to limit taking two powders to once a week, and avoid taking two others completely.

Those are Naked Nutrition’s Mass Gainer powder, which contains 7.7 micrograms of lead per serving, and Huel’s Black Edition powder, which contains 6.3 micrograms of lead.

James Clark, chief marketing officer at Naked Nutrition, told NPR via email that their product is the only plant-based weight gainer included in the Consumer Reports study, so the serving size is larger than that of other protein powders. When looked at on a per-gram basis, it is “consistent with other plant-based protein products,” Clark said.

Huel, a British company that makes plant-based meal replacement products, published a Long FAQ Consumer Reports investigation refuted. The FAQ explains where trace metals like lead come from, how they test their products and how these results meet international standards.

He criticizes Consumer Reports for basing its comparison on Proposition 65, which it says sets an “exceptionally conservative threshold,” and asserts that “scientific evidence and real-world data show that Hoyle’s trace mineral levels are safe for daily consumption.”

Likewise, the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a dietary supplement trade group, has questioned the usefulness — and potential harm — of Consumer Reports’ “level of concern” scale.

“Without alignment with applicable federal standards, or even actual safety risks, such property limits can overstate risks and cause unnecessary alarm,” she said in her statement.

However, as Consumer Reports explains in its report, there are no federal limits for the amount of heavy metals in dietary supplements.

How are protein powders regulated?

In guidance issued earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specified “Temporary reference levels“It is 2.2 micrograms of lead per day for children and 8.8 micrograms per day for women of reproductive age. But these are target levels for industry groups, not requirements.

Food and Drug Administration Regulates nutritional supplements Under a set of regulations separate from other food and drug products: They are not tested, nor are their ingredients verified, before they are sold, although the FDA can take action against “adulterated or misbranded” supplements once they are on the market.

“Although there is no action level for lead in protein powders, the FDA uses Interim Reference Levels (IRLs) of 2.2.” [micrograms]/ day for children and 8.8 [micrograms]/day for women of reproductive age, respectively, to determine whether the level of lead in a particular food or dietary supplement represents a potential health concern and, if appropriate, take action,” Hilliard told NPR.

It’s up to individual manufacturers to test for contaminants, which is what the Council for Responsible Nutrition says its members are doing.

“When products are manufactured and tested in accordance with FDA requirements, levels of naturally occurring elements are expected to remain within safe ranges,” she said.

Consumer Reports is calling on the Food and Drug Administration to set enforceable limits for lead in foods and dietary supplements to better protect consumers.

“The FDA can take action if it finds unsafe levels of lead, but the lack of enforceable standards means that doesn’t happen often enough,” Brian Runholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, said in the report. “The FDA’s lack of funding and staffing makes the problem worse.”

So what should consumers do?

Consumer Reports recommends avoiding all powders or shakes Warning 65which are easy to spot by “WARNING” labels in large letters and bright yellow triangles.

She encourages shoppers to use her recommendations when choosing between protein powders, and to consider dairy-based options rather than plant-based options when possible.

Consumer Reports and other nutrition experts say there’s no need to rely on protein powders to achieve your goals. The macronutrient can be found in many whole foods, such as Greek yogurt, nuts, legumes, and meat.

While snack companies and social media seem to be promoting everything high-protein these days, exact protein goals depend on your age, gender, and activity level. This looks different for everyone, except the USDA Daily nutritional recommendations calculator A good place to start.