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C. Michael White, Distinguished Professor of Pharmacy Practice, University of Connecticut

Protein powders and shakes contain high amounts of lead, new report says – a pharmacologist explains the data

If consumed in high doses, lead and other heavy metals have serious, well-documented health risks. whitebalance.space/E+ via Getty Images

Powder and ready-to-drink protein sales have exploded, reaching over US$32 billion globally from 2024 to 2025. Increasingly, consumers are using these protein sources daily.

A new study by Consumer Reports, published on Oct. 14, 2025, claims that some such protein products contain dangerously high levels of lead, as well as other heavy metals such as cadmium and arsenic. At high levels, these substances have serious, well-documented health risks.

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