THE ROAD, AND WE’RE WORKING TO GET SOME MORE INFORMATION. WE’LL LET YOU KNOW AS SOON AS WE HAVE IT. A LOT OF FOCUS ON INCREASING YOUR PROTEIN INTAKE THESE DAYS, WITH RESTAURANTS PUSHING THEIR PROTEIN MENUS IN 2025, A CONSUMER REPORTS SURVEY FOUND, CONCERNING LEVELS OF LEAD IN SOME PROTEIN POWDERS, AS WESH 2’S LINDSEY SHOWS US, THEY RECENTLY PUT MORE POPULAR SETTLEMENTS SUPPLEMENTS TO THE TEST. LAST FALL, CONSUMER REPORTS TESTED DOZENS OF PROTEIN POWDERS AND READY TO DRINK SHAKES. WHAT THE LAB FOUND RAISED RED FLAGS. MORE THAN TWO THIRDS CONTAINED MORE LEAD IN ONE SERVING THAN CRS, FOOD SAFETY EXPERTS SAY, IS SAFE IN A FULL DAY. OUR PREVIOUS PROTEIN POWDER INVESTIGATION PROMPTED A CRAZY WAVE OF REACTIONS AND CONCERNS FROM READERS. ONE OF THE MOST COMMON RESPONSES WE GOT WAS QUESTIONS FROM READERS ASKING, WHAT ABOUT ALL THE OTHER PROTEIN POWDERS OUT THERE? THIS TIME, RESEARCHERS TESTED FIVE. READER REQUESTED CHOCOLATE PROTEIN POWDERS. CLEAN, SIMPLE EATS EQUATE FROM WALMART. PREMIER PROTEIN RITUAL AND TREVANI. THE RESULTS WERE NOTABLY DIFFERENT. ALL FIVE POWDERS CAME BACK WITH LOW LEVELS OF LEAD, ACCORDING TO CR’S THRESHOLD, THESE POWDERS ARE SAFE FOR DAILY OR NEAR-DAILY CONSUMPTION. ON AVERAGE, THESE POWDERS ALSO HAD LOWER LEVELS OF LEAD AND ARSENIC THAN THE PRODUCTS CR TESTED IN ITS EARLIER INVESTIGATION. BUT THE TESTING ALSO RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY SO MANY OTHER PROTEIN POWDERS STILL CONTAIN HIGHER LEVELS OF HEAVY METALS. THERE ARE NO FEDERAL LIMITS FOR LEAD IN PROTEIN POWDER. AND WHILE THE FDA REQUIRES THAT MANUFACTURERS KEEP THEIR PRODUCTS FREE OF HARMFUL CONTAMINANTS, IT IS LARGELY UP TO THE COMPANIES THEMSELVES TO DETERMINE WHAT COUNTS AS HARMFUL AND TO DETERMINE HOW OFTEN TO TEST. NUTRITIONISTS SAY MOST OF US DON’T NEED PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS AT ALL. FOODS LIKE BEANS, TOFU, EGGS, DAIRY, FISH, AND LEAN MEATS CAN COVER YOUR PROTEIN NEEDS. BUT IF YOU RELY ON POWDERS, CONSUMER REPORTS SAYS, DON’T ASSUME HEALTHY MEANS RISK FREE. THEIR ADVICE? BE CAUTIOUS AND CONSIDER USING PROTEIN POWDER ONLY OCCASIONALLY. LINDSAY SABLON, WESH TWO NEWS. CONSUMER REPORTS SAYS WHILE MANY PEOPLE FOCUS ON PROTEIN, IT’S FIBER THAT MOST ADULTS ARE MISSING. NUTRITIONISTS RECOMME
Consumer Reports tests lead levels in popular chocolate protein powders
Updated: 5:09 PM EST Jan 30, 2026
Last fall, Consumer Reports tested dozens of protein powders and ready-to-drink shakes. What the lab found raised red flags: more than two-thirds contained more lead in one serving than CR’s food-safety experts say is safe in a full day. That investigation sparked a wave of concern from readers. According to CR investigative reporter Paris Martineau, many people wanted to know whether other protein powders on the market posed similar risks.In response, Consumer Reports tested five reader-requested chocolate protein powders: Clean Simple Eats, Equate from Walmart, Premier Protein, Ritual, and Truvani. This time, the results were notably different. All five powders contained low levels of lead, meeting CR’s threshold for safe daily or near-daily consumption. On average, these products also had lower levels of lead and arsenic than the powders tested in CR’s earlier investigation.Still, the findings raise broader questions about why so many other protein powders continue to contain higher levels of heavy metals. Martineau points out that there are currently no federal limits for lead in protein powder. While the FDA requires manufacturers to keep products free of harmful contaminants, companies largely decide for themselves what counts as harmful and how often their products are tested.Nutrition experts note that most people don’t actually need protein supplements. Many everyday foods—such as beans, tofu, eggs, dairy, fish, and lean meats—can easily meet protein needs. But for those who do rely on protein powders, Consumer Reports advises caution. “Healthy” doesn’t always mean risk-free, and using protein powders occasionally rather than daily may help reduce exposure.Consumer Reports also reminds consumers that while protein gets plenty of attention, fiber is the nutrient most adults are missing. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends about 25 grams of fiber per day for women and 38 grams for men, depending on age and other factors.
Last fall, Consumer Reports tested dozens of protein powders and ready-to-drink shakes. What the lab found raised red flags: more than two-thirds contained more lead in one serving than CR’s food-safety experts say is safe in a full day.
That investigation sparked a wave of concern from readers. According to CR investigative reporter Paris Martineau, many people wanted to know whether other protein powders on the market posed similar risks.
In response, Consumer Reports tested five reader-requested chocolate protein powders: Clean Simple Eats, Equate from Walmart, Premier Protein, Ritual, and Truvani. This time, the results were notably different. All five powders contained low levels of lead, meeting CR’s threshold for safe daily or near-daily consumption. On average, these products also had lower levels of lead and arsenic than the powders tested in CR’s earlier investigation.
Still, the findings raise broader questions about why so many other protein powders continue to contain higher levels of heavy metals. Martineau points out that there are currently no federal limits for lead in protein powder. While the FDA requires manufacturers to keep products free of harmful contaminants, companies largely decide for themselves what counts as harmful and how often their products are tested.
Nutrition experts note that most people don’t actually need protein supplements. Many everyday foods—such as beans, tofu, eggs, dairy, fish, and lean meats—can easily meet protein needs. But for those who do rely on protein powders, Consumer Reports advises caution. “Healthy” doesn’t always mean risk-free, and using protein powders occasionally rather than daily may help reduce exposure.
Consumer Reports also reminds consumers that while protein gets plenty of attention, fiber is the nutrient most adults are missing. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends about 25 grams of fiber per day for women and 38 grams for men, depending on age and other factors.