Consumer Reports' recent investigation has brought to light unsettling findings regarding the presence of toxic heavy metals in protein powders, despite the industry's growth and rebranding efforts. This investigation echoes concerns raised in their previous tests, revealing that many protein powders contain troubling levels of toxic heavy metals. Furthermore, the abrupt closure of My Fit Foods, a once-promising healthy prepared meals company, underscores the challenges and potential pitfalls in the health and fitness industry.
Heavy Metals in Protein Powders: A Persistent Problem
Tunde Akinleye, the CR food safety researcher who spearheaded the testing project, expressed concern over the test results, noting that they were "even worse than the last time we tested." The average lead level was higher than it was 15 years ago, and there were fewer products with undetectable amounts. The plant-based products tested were particularly concerning due to elevated lead levels.
Elevated Lead Levels in Plant-Based Protein Powders
Nearly all the plant-based products CR tested had elevated lead levels, but some were particularly concerning. A single serving of Naked Nutrition’s Mass Gainer powder contained 7.7 micrograms of lead, which is roughly 1,570 percent of CR’s level of concern for the heavy metal. Two other powders contained lead between 400 and 600 percent of CR’s level of concern: Garden of Life’s Sport Organic Plant-Based Protein and Momentous’ 100% Plant Protein. The lead levels in plant-based products were, on average, nine times the amount found in those made with dairy proteins like whey, and twice as great as beef-based ones.
Heavy Metal Contamination: Sources and Risks
Heavy metal contamination can come from natural sources or from human activity like industrial pollution, wastewater irrigation, or road dust. Plants are particularly susceptible because they naturally absorb whatever nutrients or contaminants are in the soil, water, and air around them. Extracting concentrated protein from plants is a complex, highly mechanized process. Lead could enter pea protein at the manufacturing plant, when the dried peas are dehulled and ground into flour, depending on the type of machines and metals used. It could also be introduced during the process where the flour is mixed with water to separate the protein from the starch and fiber, if the water wasn’t tested for contamination.
Rose Goldman, MD, an associate professor of medicine and physician at Cambridge Health Alliance in Medford, Mass., explains that while no amount of lead is technically safe, the greatest danger comes from repeated or continuous exposure, particularly at high doses. Children and pregnant people are most vulnerable because lead can damage the developing brain and nervous system, which has the potential to cause neurological issues, learning delays, and behavioral problems. Lead lingers in the body, so even small amounts can add up over time and contribute to health risks, Goldman says.
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Regulatory Oversight and Consumer Awareness
Brian Ronholm, CR’s director of food policy, points out that the FDA can take action if it finds unsafe lead levels, but the lack of enforceable standards means it doesn’t happen nearly enough. He also notes that the FDA’s lack of funding and staff makes the problem worse.
Consumers often assume supplements deliver health benefits without risks, says Pieter Cohen, MD, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. CR’s experts agree. Unlike prescription and over-the-counter drugs, the Food and Drug Administration doesn’t review, approve, or test supplements like protein powders before they are sold.
Company Responses and Actions
Prior to publication, CR contacted the manufacturers of all 23 products they tested and shared their results and methodology with them. Of those that responded, many say that lead is a naturally occurring element that is difficult to avoid, particularly in plant-based products.
Momentous also recently conducted a “massive overhaul” of its products to improve sourcing and “clean up formulas” for its dairy and plant-based protein powders, says spokesperson Will McClaran. “The Momentous products [CR] tested have been discontinued and are no longer commercially available,” McClaran says.
Vega renamed the plant-based protein powder and changed its sourcing practices for a key ingredient. The company now sources its pea protein-which is the first listed ingredient in the rebranded Vega Protein + Recovery-from North America instead of China.
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The Rise and Fall of My Fit Foods: A Cautionary Tale
My Fit Foods, an Austin-based healthy prepared meals company, abruptly closed all of its more than 50 locations in five states, leaving employees without warning. The company, founded in 2006, had expanded to a total of 80 locations in five states nationwide.
Financial Troubles and Legal Battles
My Fit Foods raised more than $42 million in private equity from investors, according to a 2014 Statesman story. The company had been embroiled in a lawsuit with the investors and the company’s founder, Mario Mendias, over control of My Fit Foods, which had been experiencing financial difficulties, according to the story.
A lawsuit filed in Travis County District Court alleges that a plan proposed by an investor would leave an entity linked to My Fit Foods founder Mario Mendias with a stake in the company of less than 1 percent. The suit alleges breach of implied duty of good faith and fair dealing, breach of duty of loyalty and breach of contract. It seeks between $1 million and $50 million in damages.
Leadership Changes and Cost-Cutting Measures
The company’s CEO was replaced in April 2013, according to the suit. At that time, TSG reportedly invested $2 million more, giving it a 53.73 percent share in the company. Soon thereafter, TSG wound up with three seats on the board, giving it a majority. Mendias was worried he was losing control of the company, the suit states, but a TSG representative allegedly told him “there was no cause for concern.”
However, TSG reportedly began implementing cost-cutting measures that “proved financially disastrous for the company,” according to the suit.
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Rethinking Protein Consumption: Needs and Alternatives
Experts suggest that Americans may be overemphasizing protein consumption, with many believing their diets fall short when that is not the case.
Recommended Protein Intake
The average healthy adult needs roughly 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight (0.36 grams per pound), according to federal nutrition guidelines. Studies have found that most people, even vegans, are capable of getting more than enough protein through their diet alone.
The Protein Obsession
Americans have been hooked on the idea of maximizing protein since the early 2000s, when a study suggested a connection between increased protein consumption and weight loss, says Hannah Cutting-Jones, PhD, a food historian and assistant professor at the University of Oregon in Eugene.
Risks of Over-Supplementation
Burd says that when you fortify your diet with supplements you’re putting yourself at greater risk. He adds that some supplements and fortified foods today contain more protein per serving than research has shown your body can use, which is about 25 to 30 grams per meal.