According to a recent article published by Consumer Reports, no less than 23 popular brands of protein powder were found to have lead contamination above their “level of concern.” While most of these brands did not have high enough levels of lead to be considered dangerous under normal circumstances, it still points to the potential dangers associated with these products. It also brings into question whether use of these dietary supplements is worth the potential health risks associated with lead exposure.
High Levels of Lead Found in Protein Powders
After testing dozens of different brands of protein powder, 23 brands were found to have levels of lead above 0.5 micrograms per serving, which is the maximum recommended amount under the California Prop 65 standard. In some cases, the level of contamination was over ten times the recommended amount. In particular, plant-based protein powders were at higher risk of lead contamination, compared to animal-based proteins.
How They May Have Been Contaminated
There are unfortunately a number of ways that these protein powders may have been contaminated with lead. Lead may have been introduced during the manufacturing or packaging of these products, resulting from equipment or materials used in the facilities that produce them. They may also have been contaminated early on, such as plant-based products absorbing lead from the soil where they grew.
Potential Dangers of Lead Exposure
While the amounts detected in these protein powder supplements were too small to cause any real health issues on their own, one of the dangers of lead is that it can accumulate over time in the body and become toxic over the course of many years. Lead poisoning can have potentially severe effects on people, resulting in high blood pressure, headaches, abdominal pain, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and psychological disturbances or mood swings. The results can be even more severe in children, where lead poisoning can impact their neurological development, causing life-long behavioral and emotional problems.
What You Should Do
If you use these protein powder supplements, you likely do not have anything to worry about just yet. However, you should limit your exposure to these powders and use them in moderation, especially if you do not have problems with protein deficiency. If you find yourself suffering from the effects of lead poisoning, you should speak to a doctor to get tested, and consider contacting a lawyer with experience handling product liability issues.
Williams Cedar is a law firm dedicated to helping clients with personal injury, environmental law, and civil rights cases. We specialize in assisting clients who have been injured due to exposure to environmental toxins, including veterans and their loved ones. If you need legal assistance due to toxic exposure or other related matters, please give us a call at our New Jersey and Pennsylvania offices at (215) 557-0099, or visit our contact page.