Key Development

Consumer Reports recently tested popular protein powders and ready-to-drink shakes sold in the United States and found unsafe levels of heavy metals, particularly lead. The investigation analysed 23 protein supplements available in the U.S., including dairy-based, beef-based, and plant-based products, and found that over two-thirds exceeded the safe daily lead limit of 0.5 micrograms per serving. Some products contained up to ten times the recommended limit, posing serious health risks.

Plant-Based Proteins Most Contaminated

Plant-based protein products contained the highest lead levels, averaging nine times more than dairy proteins and twice as much as beef-based products. Consumer Reports found elevated lead levels in nearly all plant-based powders and flagged Naked Nutrition’s Vegan Mass Gainer and Huel’s Black Edition as “products to avoid.” The report also identified two products that exceeded the safe level for cadmium, a probable human carcinogen, and three products that contained inorganic arsenic, a known carcinogen.

Expert Concerns and Regulatory Gaps

Brian Ronholm, Director of Food Policy at Consumer Reports, said that protein supplements are widely contaminated with toxic heavy metals, and the problem has worsened over the past 15 years, putting consumers at risk of ingesting dangerous levels of lead through their daily protein shakes.

Unlike prescription and over-the-counter drugs, the FDA does not review or test dietary supplements before they reach consumers in the U.S. Consumer Reports has petitioned the FDA to set strict limits on lead in protein powders and shakes to protect public health. Earlier this year, the FDA issued its first guidelines limiting lead in processed baby foods, including jarred fruits and vegetables, taking a step toward regulating lead in food products intended for infants.

Source: Hindustan Times

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