Oct. 15, 2025
A new Consumer Reports investigation has found that most protein powders and shakes — dietary supplements that have exploded in popularity in recent years — contain more lead in a single serving than is considered safe to ingest in an entire day. Technically, there’s no amount of lead that is considered safe to consume. But because lead builds up in the body over time, the greatest risk comes from repeated or continuous exposure. That’s what makes protein powders and shakes such worrisome delivery mechanisms for the heavy metal.
In the current protein craze (in its most extreme form — protein-maxxing ) food companies had started adding protein isolates to bread, pasta, cereal, popcorn, ice cream, soda and even bottled water. Meanwhile, millions of Americans, thinking it will help them build muscle or lose weight, have a regular habit of adding even more protein to their diet with a meal-replacement shake every morning.So, “protein powder isn’t usually treated as an occasional indulgence,” as Consumer Reports explained. “For many people, it’s part of their daily routine.”
Adding to the problem is the fact that the average American already consumes more protein than they need each day, with men clocking in at 155% of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recommended dietary allowances and women at 135%. The question then becomes “why take in unnecessary lead with protein powder?” according to Dr. Rose Goldman, an associate professor of medicine and physician at Cambridge Health Alliance in Medford, Mass., who spoke to Consumer Reports.
Protein powders and shakes are considered dietary supplements, which means there’s no federal limit on the amount of lead they can contain, and neither manufacturers nor the FDA have to prove they’re safe before they’re sold in stores.
Consumer Reports does not necessarily recommend abandoning all protein powders and shakes. But the publication’s experts do suggest “limiting the number of servings you have each week and avoiding products with the highest amounts of lead in our tests.”