A Consumer Reports study recently found that two-thirds of protein powders and ready-to-drink shakes tested contained dangerously high levels of toxic metals.
This follows a series of warnings issued Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding ground cinnamon products containing potentially hazardous levels of lead, including ground cinnamon from HAETAE and Roshni (October 10, 2025) and Durra and Wise Wife (October 8, 2025) in the last month alone.
At the time of writing, there are 16 ground cinnamon products included in the warning. The items listed were found to have varying levels of lead concentrations, ranging from 2.03 to 7.68 parts per million (ppm). The agency advises “throw away and do not purchase these ground cinnamon products.”
No adverse health reactions have been reported at this time, but the FDA stated“If you suspect someone has been exposed to elevated levels of lead, talk to your healthcare provider. Most people have no obvious immediate symptoms of lead exposure.”
“Consumers who have symptoms should contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and get help,” the FDA continued.
Read more: Ancient Human Brains Adapted to Lead Poisoning, Providing an Evolutionary Advantage
Lead is found in protein powders
According to a report led by Consumer ReportsProtein powders and shakes tested today contained higher levels of lead than those tested 15 years ago. Not only are the average levels of lead in these products higher than in the past, but fewer products tested contained undetectable levels of the heavy metal.
A total of 23 products were tested. These included dairy, beef and plant-based supplements containing 20 to 60 grams of protein per serving.
The team found that one serving of two-thirds of these foods would exceed the limit of what the consumer group considers safe for daily consumption. Plant-based foods performed particularly poorly compared to dairy-based foods, with some containing up to 1,600 percent of what Consumer Reports considers a “lead hazard level”—an amount equivalent to 0.5 micrograms. (This corresponds California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.)
The levels found in Naked Nutrition Vegan Mass Gainer and Huel Black Edition were so high that a consumer group recommends avoiding them completely.
What are the health risks associated with lead contamination?
Harmful health effects associated with lead are usually the result of long-term exposure lasting months or years. Too much lead in the body is known to increase the risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, kidney damage and even death.
Children are especially vulnerable to lead exposure because some research suggesting they absorb three times more lead than adults (5 to 15 percent versus 53 percent). Exposure can cause neurological damage that can permanently affect a child's brain development, leading to learning disabilities and behavioral problems, even if there are no obvious symptoms.
Although there is no known safe exposure level, the Interim Reference Level (IRL) for lead set by the FDA is currently 3 micrograms per day for children and 12.5 micrograms per day for women of childbearing age.
This article does not contain medical advice and should be used for informational purposes only.
Read more: Lead poisoning is still a serious problem: here's how it affects our health
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