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High levels of lead and cadmium in protein powder, US study finds

A study by the Clean Label Project has found that 47% of 160 protein powders tested exceeded safety thresholds for heavy metals. The study highlights the urgent need for improved ingredient sourcing, increased transparency, and stricter regulations.

35,862 individual tests were conducted on 160 protein powders. The tests assessed four contaminants – lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury – and two bisphenols – BPA and BPS.

The protein powders came from 70 of the top-selling brands in the US, comprising 83% of the protein supplement market.

The organic protein powders tested contained three times more lead and twice the cadmium than non-organic products, while plant-based powders contained triple the amount of lead than whey-based powders. Chocolate powders were found to contain four times more lead than vanilla-flavoured powders.

Based on the findings, the authors note that “the products with the least lead are whey or collagen-based protein powders that are not chocolate flavoured.”

In addition, they state that if consumers are looking for low-contaminant options, “plant-based protein powders generally had the highest levels of detected contaminants, while whey-based protein powders consistently demonstrated lower levels.”

‘A wake-up call for consumers, manufacturers, retailers, and regulators’

Protein powders might deliver protein content, which is part of a healthy diet, yet they are not always the safest source. The Clean Label Project said the study “serves as a wake-up call for consumers, manufacturers, retailers, and regulators”.

The authors argue that consumers expect safe and pure protein powders, yet the findings point to significant gaps in quality control. In addition, many of the products tested contained contaminants not included on the nutrition labels.

Contaminants in the protein powders come from two primary sources: the soils where the ingredients are grown, and the product's packaging.

Clean Label Project did note that there is “some good news”, as its testing found that BPA has nearly been eliminated from packaging. It commends the industry’s response to both consumer demand and controversy around the chemical.

What does this mean for Europe?

Luca Bucchini, chair of the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA) and managing director at Hylobates Consulting told Ingredients Network that the EU and the UK have stringent legal limits on heavy metals in food supplements. He explained that sports and active nutrition products, including protein powders and food supplements, are tightly regulated in the EU and UK, and that these regulations are both stringent and based on risk assessment.

He added that while some protein powders may not be covered by limits on heavy metals, “there is no evidence in Europe that we have an issue”.

Bucchini explained that BPA has been under scrutiny for several years, with strict limits already in place for its use in plastic food contact materials and coated products like metal cans. “The EU has recently banned BPA for food contact materials, and, since 2018, there have been stringent limits on its presence in food for packaging materials,” he added.

“While strict limits on BPA in plastic packaging and coated materials like metal cans have long been in place, this latest move requires businesses to eliminate BPA from plastics and resins within an 18-month phase-out period. This transition aims to safeguard the food supply chain while giving industry players sufficient time to adapt to the new regulations.”

How can brands in the EU reduce the risk of contamination in their products?

Bucchini explained that products can become contaminated inadvertently in the manufacturing process and throughout the supply chain in several ways.

“An early point of entry can be through raw materials. Contaminants can be at their most concentrated and therefore easier to detect in raw materials,” he said.

Bucchini stressed that to reduce the risk of contamination, brands, first and foremost, need to have robust supply chains and use reputable ingredient suppliers. He said: “Companies should question the geographical provenance of materials, who the supplier of these materials is, and what kind of safeguards the suppliers has put in place to minimise risks.”

Secondly, Bucchini said brands should be auditing their manufacturing facilities for potential contamination, and to add a layer of safety, test their finished products.