Toxic metals found in some protein powders, report says. Should you be worried?
Global News
Some protein powders, particularly plant-based and chocolate-flavoured varieties, have been found to contain heavy metals like lead and cadmium, according to a recent report.
Some protein powders, particularly plant-based and chocolate-flavoured varieties, have been found to contain heavy metals like lead and cadmium, according to a recent report out of the United States.
The report released on Jan. 9 from the Clean Label Project, (a non-profit organization that examines labelling safety issues) tested 160 protein powder products from 70 leading brands, representing 83 per cent of the market share in the U.S.
The tests screened for heavy metals, including lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury. The report did not disclose the names of the companies tested or the specific levels of the metals identified in the testing of each product.
Although this is a U.S. study, many of the major protein powders sold in the country are also available in Canada.
“The study’s findings highlight that despite the growing health-conscious market, many products may contain elevated levels of contaminants not reflected on traditional nutrition labels,” the report stated.
Organic protein powders contained, on average, three times more lead and twice as much cadmium compared to their non-organic counterparts, the report found. Plant-based protein powders (like soy, rice, peas and other plants) showed triple the lead levels than whey-based alternatives. And chocolate-flavoured powders contained four times more lead than vanilla-flavoured options, the report stated.
Depending on the level of exposure, lead and cadmium have been found to cause various health issues, including kidney damage, bone loss, reproductive problems and increased risk of cancer. Both metals also occur naturally in the environment, while human activities have significantly increased their presence in the environment.
“As a result, it is present in trace amounts in virtually all the foods we eat. In addition to naturally occurring lead, food can be contaminated from several sources,” Health Canada stated on its website. “Lead is widespread in the human environment, so manufacturing a product with zero lead is generally not possible.”
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