(NaturalHealth365)  Americans are obsessed with protein.  We’ve turned what was once a niche bodybuilder supplement into a multibillion-dollar wellness craze, downing protein shakes for breakfast, snacking on protein bars, and choosing “high-protein” versions of everything from cereal to ice cream.

There’s just one problem: The protein you are consuming could have too much lead.

For example, Consumer Reports (CR) just released test results on 23 popular protein powders and ready-to-drink shakes.  Over two-thirds contained more lead in a single serving than CR’s experts say is safe to consume in a day, some by more than 10 times.

“It’s concerning that these results are even worse than the last time we tested,” says Tunde Akinleye, CR’s food safety researcher, who led the project.  When CR last tested protein powders 15 years ago, lead levels were bad.  Now they’re worse, with higher average lead levels and fewer products containing undetectable amounts.

Editor’s note: For a safe alternative, look for a high quality source of organic protein powder like, LuvByNature Grazing Goat Whey Protein.

The worst offenders will shock you

Two plant-based protein powders contained so much lead that CR experts advise against using them at all:

Naked Nutrition’s Vegan Mass Gainer contained 7.7 micrograms of lead per serving – that’s 1,570% of CR’s daily safety limit.  Nearly twice as much lead as the worst product tested in 2010.

Huel’s Black Edition packed 6.3 micrograms of lead per serving – 1,290% of the safe daily limit.  This product also contained over double the safe amount of cadmium, another toxic heavy metal.

Two others – Garden of Life’s Sport Organic Plant-Based Protein and Momentous’ 100% Plant Protein – contained lead between 400-600% of safe levels.  CR recommends limiting these to once a week maximum.  But, to be honest, it’s better to avoid them.

Don’t assume that all plant-based foods are “safe”

Here’s the part that destroys the “clean eating” narrative: Plant-based protein powders can have much more lead than whey protein products.  Why?

Because plants naturally absorb whatever’s in the soil, water, and air around them – including heavy metals from decades of industrial pollution, contaminated irrigation water, and road dust.

Some of these companies extract concentrated protein from plants involves dehulling, grinding, separating, coagulating with food-grade acid, and spray-drying.  Each step introduces opportunities for more lead to get into the final product depending on the equipment used and water quality.

The FDA’s shameful regulatory failure

Keep in mind, there is no federal limit for lead in protein powders.  The FDA requires manufacturers to keep products “free of harmful contaminants,” but leaves it up to companies to decide what counts as harmful and test their own products.

Since 1994, when Congress gutted the FDA’s authority over supplements, these products have been “presumed safe unless found otherwise.”  Most face scrutiny only after reaching the market – meaning contaminated supplements reach consumers before problems are caught.

Manufacturers don’t even have to notify the FDA when introducing new products.  Of the 12,000 registered supplement makers, the FDA inspected just 510 domestically and 90 foreign facilities last year.  That’s 5% oversight of an industry Americans trust with their health.

How to protect yourself

Eat quality protein: Get protein from whole foods sources like, organic beans, pasture raised eggs, raw dairy, wild caught fish, pasture raised poultry and 100% grass finished meats.

When you consume protein powder: Choose a high-quality, organic whey or plant-based source.  Look for third-party testing from NSF, USP, or Informed-Choice.

Reduce your total toxic burden: Keep in mind, lead is also in the air, soil, household dust, and many highly processed food items.  Maintain a diet rich in variety and eat from local (organic) sources, as much as possible.  Find local farmers to supply you with the best quality food you can find.

Support your body’s detoxification: Your liver and kidneys work constantly to remove toxins, but they need support – especially when you’re unknowingly consuming heavy metals.  Stay well hydrated by drinking clean water, daily.

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Sources for this article include:

Consumerreports.org
Medicalxpress.com