Consumer Reports finds lead in popular protein powders : NPR

A Consumer Reports investigation found what it calls “relative” levels of lead in about two dozen popular brands of protein powders, but says that's not necessarily the reason they're being thrown out.

The nonprofit tested several samples of 23 protein powders and pre-made shakes from a number of stores and online retailers over a three-month period starting last November.

Results, published on Tuesdayshow that more than two-thirds of foods contain more lead per serving than Consumer Reports experts say is safe to consume throughout the day.

“Some products are more than 10 times safe according to our experts,” Consumer Reports reporter. Paris Martino told NPR on Wednesday.

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

“When it came to protein powders and shakes made with whey or milk proteins, they tended to contain the least amount of lead,” Martino said. “Even so, half of the products we tested had high enough levels of contamination that our experts advise against taking them daily.”

Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman Emily Hilliard told NPR in an email that the Food and Drug Administration is reviewing Consumer Reports' findings — and other data from its various heavy metal sampling programs — “to better inform where to focus our testing efforts and enforcement efforts.”

The Council for Responsible Nutrition, a trade group representing the dietary supplement industry, published a statement on Wednesday, urging caution in interpreting the study results. It says current testing methods are sensitive enough to identify trace amounts of naturally occurring heavy metals, and this in itself does not indicate a health hazard.

“A finding that a product exceeds Consumer Reports' voluntary threshold does not amount to exceeding a government safety limit and is not evidence of any risk to consumer safety,” the trade group added.

The Consumer Report study adds to a growing body of research into heavy metals in a variety of everyday products, from cinnamon To tampons. And this isn't the first company to research protein powders: the nonprofit Clean Label Project Earlier this year, it tested 160 products from 70 brands and found that 47% exceeded California Proposition 65 safety thresholds for toxic metals.

The results come at a time when many Americans do part of their daily lives under conditions The country's protein craze.

Eat no known safe level exposure to lead, which is present in many environments in which food is grown, grown 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.

Although Consumer Reports advises against drinking a protein shake every day, it says that most of the products tested can be consumed occasionally. Even those with the highest lead levels are “well below the concentration needed to cause immediate harm,” Martino says.

“The real risk with lead is that even if you are constantly exposed to low levels, that lead can accumulate in the body and end up causing problems later on,” Martino adds. “So my biggest piece of advice would be to take a closer look at your protein shakes and take a look at what you're using so you can make an informed decision rather than worrying right away.”

What is relative level?

Consumer Reports categorizes the 23 powders it tested based on its “lead level,” which is defined as 0.5 micrograms per day. This is based on the maximum allowable dose level for lead under California's Proposition 65.

Accordingly, the organization recommends seven foods as “best choices for daily consumption” and another 12 as “occasional food choices.” He advises limiting two powders to once a week and avoiding the other two altogether.

These 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 for Naked Nutrition, told NPR via email that it is the only vegan weight-gain product included in the Consumer Reports study, so its serving size is larger than other protein powders. On a per-gram basis, Clark said it is “in line with other plant-based protein products.”

Huel, a British company that produces plant-based meal replacement products, published long FAQ refuting a Consumer Reports investigation. The FAQ section explains where trace elements such as lead come from, how the company tests its products, and how these results compare to international standards.

He criticizes Consumer Reports for basing its comparison on Proposition 65, which he says sets an “exceptionally conservative threshold,” and argues that “scientific evidence and real-world data show that Huel's micronutrient levels are safe for daily consumption.”

The Council for Responsible Nutrition, a dietary supplement trade group, also questioned the usefulness—and potential harms—of Consumer Reports' “concern level” score.

“Without harmonization with established federal standards or even actual safety risk, such proprietary thresholds may overstate risk and cause unnecessary alarm,” the statement said.

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

How are protein powders regulated?

In guidance published earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found:intermediate reference levels“2.2 micrograms of lead per day for children and 8.8 micrograms per day for women of childbearing age. But these are target levels for industry groups, not requirements.

FDA regulates food additives under a set of rules that are separate from other foods and drugs: They are not tested and their ingredients are not checked before sale, although the FDA can take action against “adulterated or misbranded” supplements once they hit the market.

“Although there is no action level for lead in protein powders, the FDA uses an intermediate reference level (IRL) of 2.2. [micrograms]/day for children and 8.8 [micrograms]/day for women of childbearing age, respectively, to determine whether the level of lead in a particular food or dietary supplement is a potential health problem and, if necessary, take appropriate action,” Hilliard told NPR.

Individual producers must test for contaminants, which members of the Council for Responsible Nutrition say they do.

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

Consumer Reports is calling on the FDA to set mandatory limits on lead in food and supplements to better protect consumers.

“The FDA can take action if it finds unsafe levels of lead, but the lack of enforced standards means that doesn't happen,” Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, said in the report. “The FDA's lack of funding and staffing is exacerbating the problem.”

So what should consumers do?

Consumers Report recommends avoiding any powders or shakes containing Proposition 65 Warningswhich are easily identified by their warning notices in capital letters and bright yellow triangles.

He urges shoppers to use his recommendations when choosing between protein powders and, when possible, choose dairy over plant-based ones.

Consumer Reports and other nutrition experts say there's no need to rely on protein powders to reach 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 in protein these days, your exact protein intake goals depend on your age, gender and activity level. It looks different for everyone, but the U.S.D.A. Daily Nutrient Recommendations Calculator this is a good place to start.