What’s in your protein powder?

Products test positive for lead, arsenic: study

Your post- workout protein shake may contain more than you bargained for. A new study by the Clean Label Project suggests that some of the most popular protein products on the market may contain contaminants.

According to Consumer Reports, the non- profit organization tested 134 topselling protein powders and drinks for more than 130 toxins, including heavy metals ( arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury), Bisphenol A (BPA), and pesticides.

It found “detectable levels” of one or more heavy metals in “virtually all” of the products, while 55 per cent contained BPA. As Consumer Reports points out, the substances “have been linked to cancer, brain damage, and reproductive issues.”

“These toxins accumulate in your body and can stay there for years. Frequent consumption of foods that contain them can have adverse health effects over the long run,” said Tunde Akinleye, a test program leader in Consumer Reports’ Food Safety Division.

Although organic samples contained 40- per- cent less BPA, the analysis showed that on average, they had higher concentrations of heavy metals than non- organic products. “That probably has more to do with these products being plantbased than being organic,” Sean Callan of Ellipse Analytics, the lab that tested the samples, told Consumer Reports. Plant-derived products ( e. g. soy, hemp) contained “on average twice as much lead and measurably higher amounts of other contaminants” than animal source proteins (e.g. whey, egg). Callan attributed the difference to the fact that plants absorb contaminants from the soil in the same manner as nutrients.

Protein supplements represent a significant global market — in 2016, it was valued at $16 billion globally. If you frequent a gym, you’ve witnessed the popularity of protein shakes first- hand. Many people turn to protein powders post-workout, aiming to build muscle mass. Others consume various protein- enriched products for convenience or to help with weight management.

Despite the traction of protein supplements, many dietitians operate on a “foodfirst” philosophy. “The bottom line is that when you get protein from whole foods, you are getting extra micronutrients and fibre that contribute to a healthy diet,” nutritional sciences professor Nancy Rodriguez told Time magazine. “It’s a more complete nutrient package.”

It should be noted that this isn’t the first time the Clean Label Project made headlines by claiming to find contaminants. In October 2017, the organization issued a report on arsenic and lead being discovered in baby food. Factchecking site Snopes analyzed the study’s findings and criticized the organization for failing to publish its data or subject it to peer review.

After the analysis was first published, the Clean Label Project submitted its data and Snopes determined that “the average concentration was either below the level of detection or below federal safety limits.”

However, with regard to the protein powder study, Consumer Reports mentions that this research isn’t the first to make the link between protein powders and contaminants: “A 2010 Consumer Reports’ study detected arsenic, cadmium, lead and/or mercury in samples of all the 15 powders tested.”