Protein powder lead levels raise eyebrows, but experts say don’t panic

By HPN Staff

Consumer Reports’ latest round of protein powder testing found high “troubling” levels of lead in many products, continuing a trend the organization has tracked for 15 years. Of the 23 powders and ready-to-drink shakes analyzed, more than two-thirds exceeded what the nonprofit calls safe for daily consumption.

But experts stress there’s no need to panic. Most levels remain below thresholds associated with immediate harm, even if they surpass the nonprofit’s internal “level of concern.”

Why it matters

Consumer Reports based its “level of concern” on California’s Prop 65 standard of 0.5 micrograms per day. One manufacturer, Huel, whose protein products were tested, criticized the benchmark as “an exceptionally conservative threshold,” adding that "scientific evidence and real-world data show that Huel's trace mineral levels are safe for daily consumption."

Protein powders are classified as dietary supplements, a category the FDA does not review, approve, or test. Because federal regulators do not mandate government-led testing, manufacturers largely set their own quality standards. 

Some industry representatives say this context is important when interpreting studies like Consumer Reports’, which can “overstate risk and cause unnecessary alarm,” according to the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), a trade group representing supplement makers. 

“A finding that a product exceeds Consumer Reports’ self-imposed threshold is not the same as exceeding a government safety limit, nor is it evidence of any safety risk to consumers,” CRN added. The group adds that its members routinely test for contaminants in their own products.

The big picture

Earlier this year, the FDA issued “interim reference levels” of 2.2 micrograms of lead per day for children and 8.8 micrograms for women of childbearing age. These are guidelines, not enforceable rules.

When products are manufactured and tested in accordance with FDA requirements, levels of naturally occurring elements are expected to remain well within safe ranges," CRN said. Despite this, Consumer Reports called for enforceable FDA limits on lead in food, a measure the Council contends is largely unnecessary.

“When critics say dietary supplements are ‘unregulated,’ what they generally mean is that dietary supplements are not regulated like drugs. Dietary supplements have always been regulated as a category of food in this country… Virtually all facets of dietary supplement manufacturing, labeling and marketing are covered by extensive regulations issued and enforced by FDA and FTC,” CRN said.

While Consumer Reports highlights potential risks, industry experts emphasize that existing FDA oversight and voluntary manufacturer testing provide strong safeguards. Consumers seeking reassurance can look to brands that publish third-party lab results or maintain rigorous internal quality controls.