Most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day — some by more than 10 times ! (ConsumerReports)

#21

It’s pretty terrible for the environment to eat animal protein compared to plant based sources, but I still use whey protein ever since reports began surfacing 10+ years ago that plant protein powders tend to be contaminated with heavy metals.

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#22

Just a data point. I have been consuming plant protein powders for many years. My go to brands are:

NOW Sports Soy Protein Isolate

and

Folona SOLO Organic Pea Protein Low Sodium Unflavored

I did some research back in the day, before I selected these brands, but have not revisited the issue for years.

However, my point here is that I did a LabCorp blood test for lead back in April of this year, and it came back as <1.0 ug/dL (ref. 0.00 - 3.4), so no flagging for excess lead, FWIW. I also consume salmon and sardines and on a LabCorp blood test in August of this year, my mercury serum level came back as <1.0 ug/L (ref. detection limit 1.0 range 0.0 - 14.9).

I don’t know how reliable the LabCorp tests are, and if serum levels are the best measure vs tissue levels, hair analysis etc, but at least I can say that after years of consuming soy protein powder 5 times a week approx. 1/3 cup at a time and pea protein powder 2 times a week approx. 1/4 cup at a time of the two brands mentioned above, LabCorp blood test does not detect high serum levels of lead (or mercury wrt. fish). What does this mean, I don’t know, but for now I do not intend to alter my consumption of these two powders. YMMV.

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#23

Mixing in some pectin (low molecular weight would be easiest to work with, but more expensive), iron, calcium, and ascorbate could give a bigger margin of safety.

#24

Hi All,

Someone may have mentioned this already but ConsumerLab.com does lots of testing along these lines and I hear various influencers boost them (e.g. Rhonda Patrick). I would recommend getting on there if you are interested / concerned about these issues.

You can see their protein powder review here (if you have a login):

There are a lot of vegan (and other) powders that pass the lead / heavy metal tests. Here is one that I have used (lead .17 mcg / .005 mcg/g):
https://www.iherb.com/pr/now-foods-sports-pea-protein-pure-unflavored-2-lbs-907-g/9858?utm_campaign=1011l400789&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=lksabincl

Here’s another plant protein that has good, low numbers for heavy metals:
https://www.iherb.com/pr/plantfusion-complete-protein-creamy-vanilla-bean-1-lb-450-g/28949

Nick

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#25

Thx! I don’t pay for CL but I see in your link they reviewed kachava. Would you mind telling me what it said?

Also, I’ll share this additional discussion

#26

Hi Beth,

Here are the numbers for Ka’Chava:
Lead: 2.7 mcg (0.04 mcg/g)
Cadmium: 4.3 mcg (0.07 mcg/g)
Arsenic: 2.5 mcg (0.04 mcg/g)
Mercury: 0.06 mcg (0.001 mcg/g)

It is “Approved” but the lead numbers were in the Yellow zone, at the high end of the approved spectrum. So, most of the others were lower than this one.

I would definitely recommend ConsumerLab.com to anyone. It has been very useful.

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