Should You Be Worried About Lead in Protein Powders?

Written by: Meredith Paci, Functional Health Coach

You’ve probably seen headlines warning that protein powders contain dangerous levels of lead. Sounds scary, right? What most people don’t realize is that the same kind of testing has also flagged chocolate for similar concerns and you don’t see anyone giving up their favorite dark chocolate bar over it.

Every so often, another report surfaces claiming that protein powders and shakes contain unsafe levels of heavy metals like lead. The most recent example came from Consumer Reports, titled “Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead.” They tested 23 popular products and found that more than two-thirds contained more lead in a single serving than what their experts consider safe for daily intake.

Before you panic about your post-workout shake or pitch your protein powder into the trash, hold up. Let’s look at what’s actually going on here.

This Isn’t New (And It’s Not That Simple)

This isn’t a new discovery. Reports like this one pop up every few years, often with updated product lists or new testing standards. And while I believe they do, in some capacity, help keep the supplement industry accountable, they almost always miss the bigger opportunity: to educate the consumer. And that’s just flat-out unfortunate.

The takeaway shouldn’t be “avoid protein powders.” It should be “quality matters.”

Unfortunately, most of these reports, including this one , lean heavily on fear, ignoring decades of solid research showing the benefits of quality protein supplementation across nearly every population.

And yes, even recognizable brands like Vega, Equip, Jocko, and Dymatize to name a few sometimes show up in these reports. That doesn’t mean every product they make is problematic. Most often, it’s a single formulation (usually a plant-based or mass gainer version) rather than their entire line.

Just like I’ve discussed before when it comes to electrolyte or supplement quality, this all comes down to transparency and quality assurance. If a company breaks your trust, you’re absolutely right to move on. But to condemn an entire category of products or every brand in the space? That’s just not logical.

Still, as the saying goes, any attention is good attention, right? (I don’t agree, but apparently, here we are — since this “report” is all the talk.)

What the Report Actually Found

Consumer Reports tested 23 protein powders and ready-to-drink shakes and found that two-thirds contained more lead than what they considered safe for daily intake.

But here’s the catch: their “safe limit” was based on California’s Proposition 65, which uses extremely conservative thresholds — less than 0.5 micrograms of lead per day. That’s not a globally recognized standard, and a product can trigger a Prop 65 warning even when it’s far below federal safety limits.

Before anyone jumps in — yes, strict safety standards matter. They matter to me and to Fortify Health, which is exactly why we don’t just send clients on an Amazon hunt. The issue isn’t testing, it’s the headline. It implies that all protein powders are unsafe.”

The reality? They tested 23 products. Twenty-three. Do you know how many protein powders are on the market? Thousands.

So yes, we want and deserve the best regulation, accountability, and transparency — I’m right there with you. But fear-based headlines like this completely overshadow decades of data showing the benefits of quality whey protein for metabolic health, body composition, recovery, and aging.

The worst offenders in this study were, unsurprisingly, mass gainers and plant-based powders. That’s not new  and it’s also why Sarah and I haven’t recommended greens powders for years. We’re very specific with what we suggest… plant-based included.

Plants naturally pull minerals (and unfortunately, metals) from soil. When you grind and concentrate them into a powder, you also concentrate those trace contaminants. It’s a sourcing and manufacturing issue, not a “protein powder equals poison” issue.

Fear ≠ Education

To her credit, the author did mention that detectable levels of heavy metals don’t automatically mean unsafe exposure. But the rest of the piece? Just missed the opportunity! Big, broad, fear-based title. Minimal context. Mission accomplished — everyone panics. Most people won’t even read past the headline before scrolling to the “worst offenders” list.

And that’s sad. This could’ve been a great opportunity to educate not just on potential risks, but on the importance of quality assurance. When you buy from companies that test rigorously and publish results, the actual risk of meaningful heavy metal exposure remains very low.

This is exactly why we stay committed to recommending third-party tested, reputable brands especially whey proteins. Whey has decades of data supporting both safety and benefit. That said, we still love a few quality plant-based options too.

Let’s Keep It Real

We’re all allowed to draw our own red lines. If this makes you want to avoid powders altogether, that’s okay. We champion real food first.

But let’s also keep it real most of us are already exposed to far greater daily toxins than trace amounts in a tested supplement.

If your diet leans heavily on ultra-processed foods, if you’re slathering on layers of makeup and scented products every day, burning candles, drinking alcohol regularly, under-hydrating, not enjoying variety in your diet, or not pooping daily… what are we doing here?

If You’re Concerned

If heavy metal toxicity (like lead, mercury, arsenic) ever worries you — we can test. I’ve done it myself several times for unrelated reasons, and my results have always come back clean (except for bismuth… bismuth did me dirty, but that’s a story for another newsletter).

If you just want to reduce risk in general:

• Look for third-party testing. Certifications like NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Sport Certified indicate a company voluntarily tests for contaminants.
• Choose whey or animal-based proteins — they tend to test lower for metals.
• Use powders as a convenience tool, not a cornerstone. If you need 3+ scoops a day to meet your goals, it’s probably time to rework your whole food intake.
• If you prefer plant-based protein, look for those same certifications and no, “Certified Organic” or “Certified Natural” isn’t the same thing. You might also consider choosing vanilla over chocolate, since chocolate flavors tend to test higher for lead (thanks to the cocoa).

The Cocoa Comparison

Now, that brings us to a whole new problem — your beloved cocoa. Oh no!

So while everyone’s panicking about lead in protein powders, do you really want to know how often cocoa itself gets flagged for heavy metal contamination?

Well, stay with me , I’ve got the hot chocolate dish for you.

A mutli-year study looked at 72 cocoa-containing products (yes, seventy-two!!!) and found that 43% exceeded California’s Prop 65 daily limit for lead, and 35% exceeded the level for cadmium. Another Consumer Reports investigation tested 28 dark chocolate bars and found all of them contained detectable levels of lead and cadmium, and for 23 of those bars, eating just one ounce a day would push an adult over Prop 65 limits.

And yet… we don’t see anyone tossing their chocolate stash before Halloween. These are the same types of reports we scroll past, think “oh, that’s wild,” and move on. 

Just putting it into perspective.

The Bottom Line

These headlines remind us why being discerning and intentional about what we consume (including media) matters. Not because everything is unsafe, but because context is everything.

I wish more of these articles led with education instead of fear. But if it sparked curiosity or healthy skepticism like it did for some of my clients, I’ll call that a win.

If you found this helpful, share it with your community. We love when good info spreads.