Protein powders have become a reliable tool for those who go to the gym or care about their health. These powders are used to build muscle, improve fitness and manage weight. But are protein powders safe for health? A new report has revealed a shocking truth: “About half of the products tested contain toxic metals linked to cancer.”
According to MedicalDaily, a recent report from a non-profit consumer safety group called the Clean Label Project showed that 47% of protein powders examined contained heavy metals in amounts exceeding food safety standards. The highest amount of these metals can be seen in vegetable, organic and chocolate-flavored products.
On average, organic products had higher levels of heavy metal contamination, and the amount of lead and cadmium in them was three times and twice that of inorganic protein powders, respectively. Plant-based protein powders contained three times as much lead as whey protein powders, and chocolate-flavored powders contained four times more lead than vanilla-flavored varieties.
No amount of lead is safe for humans and lead and cadmium can cause cancer. Therefore, the presence of these metals in protein powders is dangerous.
Research shows that even small amounts of lead can cause problems in children’s physical and mental development. Also, long-term exposure to cadmium is associated with kidney, bone and lung diseases. “Heavy metal contamination is a global food safety problem,” says Jacqueline Bowen, Clean Label Project Manager. These contaminants are present almost everywhere, even in products that are introduced to people as healthy foods.”
In the new research, 160 products from 70 best-selling brands of protein powder were examined. But the names of the brands are not mentioned in the report so that the research is unbiased and avoid any conflict of interest.
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Researchers believe that its findings are a wake-up call not only for consumers, but also for manufacturers and sellers.
Since there are no specific and comprehensive laws to control heavy metals in food supplements, researchers ask all stakeholders to take measures to ensure the safety of these products and protect public health.
The findings of the Clean Label project underscore the need for greater transparency and stricter regulations to protect consumers from harm caused by long-term exposure to toxic metals.
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), an industry group representing supplement manufacturers, criticized the report, citing a lack of transparency in determining contamination thresholds and product selection. “Without such transparency, consumers and industry stakeholders cannot fully assess the veracity of claims,” ​​CRN senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs Andrea Venog told CNN in a statement.
