Is MyProtein Impact Whey Safe? Lead Testing & the Prop 65 Case Nobody Mentions
✅ Direct Answer: Is MyProtein Impact Whey Safe?
Yes, on the current evidence — with a history worth knowing. Independent Labdoor testing of Impact Whey Isolate found arsenic, cadmium and mercury undetected and lead below the limit of quantitation (a passing result). It's Informed Choice and Informed Protein certified. But MyProtein's parent company settled a California Prop 65 lead/cadmium case for $198,000 in 2020. We rate it Verified Safe on current testing — and we think you should know both halves. Jump to the Prop 65 history →
Most reviews of MyProtein cite its excellent lab scores. Almost none mention that the company paid nearly $200,000 to settle a California lead case. Both facts are true, and you deserve both.
The Independent Test Results
Labdoor — which buys products off the shelf, tests them, and publishes the full Certificate of Analysis — tested MyProtein Impact Whey Isolate:
| Heavy Metal | Result | USP Daily Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | Below LOQ* | 5 µg/serving | ✅ PASS |
| Arsenic | Undetected | 15 µg/serving | ✅ PASS |
| Cadmium | Undetected | 5 µg/serving | ✅ PASS |
| Mercury | Undetected | 15 µg/serving | ✅ PASS |
*LOQ = Limit of Quantitation. Lot U41582255, sampled November–December 2024, 1 scoop (31.5g). Accuracy also passed: 25g protein claimed, 25.3g found.
⚠️ "Below LOQ" and "Undetected" Are Not the Same Thing
This is a distinction most review sites flatten, and it matters.
- Undetected — the instrument found nothing. This is what the same lab reported for lead in NOW Sports Whey Isolate.
- Below LOQ — something may be there, but it's below the level the lab can reliably quantify. It's a pass, and it's a good result. It is not quite as clean as "undetected."
Practically? Both are far below the 5 µg USP limit, and both are fine for daily use. But if you're comparing two proteins and one says "undetected" while the other says "below LOQ," you now know which is the stronger result — and that nobody else will tell you.
The Certifications: Informed Choice + Informed Protein
MyProtein carries two meaningful certifications on Impact Whey Isolate:
| Certification | What It Verifies | Heavy Metals? |
|---|---|---|
| Informed Choice | Regular random testing for banned substances and contaminants; global sports-nutrition QC standard | ⚠️ Contaminants — banned substances are the focus |
| Informed Protein | Verifies label protein accuracy — guards against amino-acid/nitrogen "spiking" | ❌ No — this is about label honesty |
Read the certifications for what they are. Informed Protein is a genuinely good thing — protein spiking is a real industry fraud — but it tells you nothing about lead. Informed Choice is a real contaminant program, but banned substances are its headline. The Labdoor COA is what actually speaks to heavy metals here, which is why we lead with it rather than the logos.
⚡ Quick Check: Is YOUR Protein Safe?
Tell us what you're using — we'll show you the safety data in 5 seconds:
The $198,000 Prop 65 Settlement Nobody Mentions
Here's the part that's missing from every "best protein powder" list that features MyProtein.
⚖️ The Record
- May & June 2019 — the Environmental Research Center filed California Proposition 65 Notices of Violation alleging that MyProtein products contained lead and/or cadmium at levels requiring a Prop 65 warning.
- September 2019 — ERC filed a civil complaint against The Hut Group Limited, dba MyProtein.
- June 2020 — settlement reached.
- September 8, 2020 — judgment entered. The Hut Group paid $198,000 total in civil penalties, settlement payments, attorney's fees and costs, and agreed to corrective action.
Prop 65 is a warning-label law — the allegation was failure to warn about exposure levels, not that the product was acutely poisonous. But this was a real case with a real payment and a real corrective-action agreement.
So How Much Should That Worry You?
Honestly? Less than you'd think — because of what came after. Here's the timeline that matters:
| When | What Happened | What It Tells Us |
|---|---|---|
| 2019–2020 | Prop 65 lead/cadmium case → $198,000 settlement + corrective action | There was a real problem |
| Nov–Dec 2024 | Labdoor COA: 3 metals undetected, lead below LOQ, purity PASS | Independent testing now looks clean |
| Current | Informed Choice + Informed Protein certified | Ongoing third-party surveillance |
✅ Our Read: A Company That Was Caught, and Then Fixed It
The 2019 case is six years old. The corrective action was agreed. And the most recent independent evidence — a 2024 Labdoor COA on an off-the-shelf tub — passes cleanly. That's a substantially better story than a brand with no testing history at all. We'd rather buy from a company that got caught and cleaned up than one nobody has ever checked. But you should know the history, and now you do.
One thing we won't do: pretend the 2019 case tells you what's in the tub today, or pretend it never happened. Old test results don't describe current products — that cuts both ways. The 2024 COA is the current evidence, and it's good.
Impact Whey vs. Impact Whey Isolate — Not the Same Product
Read your tub carefully. MyProtein sells Impact Whey Protein (a concentrate) and Impact Whey Isolate (~90% protein, more heavily filtered). They are different products with different test results. The Labdoor COA cited on this page is for the Isolate, lot U41582255.
MyProtein also sells a large catalog including plant-based (pea/rice) proteins, blends, and clear whey. Plant proteins carry substantially higher category risk — Consumer Reports found 14 of 15 exceeded safe lead limits. We never transfer a result from one product line to another, and neither should you.
On the category question: Impact Whey Isolate is whey, which is the right place to be. Consumer Reports found whey averaged roughly 9× less lead than plant proteins, and 6 of the 7 safest products tested were whey-based.
MyProtein vs. the Verified Field
| Brand | Price/Serving | Independent Lead Result | Certification | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard | ~$0.75 | Below detection (CR #5) | Informed Sport (select) | ✅ Verified Safe |
| MyProtein Impact Whey Isolate | ~$0.90–1.30 | Below LOQ (Labdoor) | Informed Choice + Informed Protein | ✅ Verified Safe |
| NOW Sports Whey Isolate | ~$1.00–1.30 | Undetected (Labdoor) | Informed Sport (every batch) | ✅ Verified Safe |
| Dymatize ISO100 | ~$1.25 | Below detection (CR #2) | NSF Certified for Sport | ✅ Verified Safe |
| Nutricost Whey | ~$1.12–1.68 | ❓ None published | ❌ None | ❓ Untested |
💡 The Head-to-Head That Matters: MyProtein vs. NOW Sports
Same lab, same testing window, similar price. NOW Sports came back "undetected" on lead; MyProtein came back "below LOQ." Both pass, both are far under the limit — but NOW's is the cleaner result, and NOW's Informed Sport certification tests every batch with retail blind-sampling. If you're splitting hairs between them, that's the hair. MyProtein counters with a wider flavor range and frequent discounting.
✅ What We'd Buy
MyProtein Impact Whey Isolate — verified safe on current testing, huge flavor range, frequently discounted.
Check price on Amazon
NOW Sports Whey Isolate — lead undetected, Informed Sport every batch. The cleaner result.
Check price on Amazon ·
Read our analysis
ON Gold Standard — cheapest verified pick, Consumer Reports #5.
Check price on Amazon ·
Read our analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MyProtein Impact Whey safe?
Yes, on current independent testing. Labdoor's 2024 COA on Impact Whey Isolate found arsenic, cadmium and mercury undetected and lead below the limit of quantitation, passing purity and accuracy. It's Informed Choice and Informed Protein certified. The caveat is historical: MyProtein's parent settled a Prop 65 lead/cadmium case for $198,000 in 2020.
Does MyProtein Impact Whey have lead?
Lead was "below LOQ" — below the limit of quantitation. That means any lead present was too low for the lab to reliably measure, against a 5 µg/serving USP limit. It's a passing result. It's a step below "undetected" (which is what the same lab found for NOW Sports), but both are far under the limit and fine for daily use.
Did MyProtein get sued over lead?
Yes — and it settled. The Environmental Research Center filed California Prop 65 notices in 2019 alleging lead and/or cadmium in MyProtein products above warning thresholds. The Hut Group Limited (dba MyProtein) settled in June 2020, with judgment entered September 8, 2020, paying $198,000 total plus corrective action. That's six years ago, and the independent 2024 lab testing since then passes cleanly.
Should the 2020 settlement stop me buying MyProtein?
Not on its own. Old results don't describe current tubs — a principle we apply in both directions. The most recent independent evidence (Labdoor, late 2024, bought off the shelf) is good. A brand that was caught, paid, took corrective action, and now passes independent testing is arguably a safer bet than a brand nobody has ever tested. Know the history; weigh the current data.
Is Impact Whey the same as Impact Whey Isolate?
No. Impact Whey Protein is a concentrate; Impact Whey Isolate is a more filtered isolate (~90% protein). Different products, different test results. The COA on this page covers the Isolate. Never assume one product's results apply to another — that's how misinformation spreads in this category.
What about MyProtein's plant-based proteins?
Different category, higher risk, not covered here. MyProtein sells pea/rice plant proteins. Consumer Reports found 14 of 15 plant proteins exceeded safe lead limits. Nothing on this page transfers to those lines. For a verified plant option, see Truvani (passed CR January 2026).
The Bottom Line on MyProtein
MyProtein Impact Whey Isolate passes on the evidence that exists today. Independent Labdoor testing found three heavy metals undetected and lead below quantifiable limits, with Informed Choice and Informed Protein certification on top. The part other sites leave out is that MyProtein's parent paid $198,000 in 2020 to settle a California Prop 65 lead and cadmium case. We think that's context you're entitled to — and we also think it's largely historical, because the current independent testing is clean. If you want the strictly cleaner lead result at a similar price, NOW Sports came back "undetected" rather than "below LOQ." If you want the cheapest verified option, ON Gold Standard is still $0.75.
🔎 Checking a Different Brand?
Search any protein brand for its safety rating, lead level, and price tier. If it's untested, we'll tell you honestly — and point you to a verified alternative.
Search the Brand Database →Sources:
- Labdoor — Certificate of Analysis, MyProtein Impact Whey Isolate, lot U41582255, sampled November–December 2024, 1 scoop (31.5g). Heavy metals: arsenic, cadmium, mercury undetected; lead below LOQ. Purity: PASS. Accuracy: PASS (25g claimed, 25.3g found).
- Environmental Research Center — California Proposition 65 Notices of Violation against Cend International dba MyProtein (May 13 and June 11, 2019) alleging lead and/or cadmium; civil complaint against The Hut Group Limited dba MyProtein (September 3, 2019); settlement June 9, 2020; judgment September 8, 2020; $198,000 total paid.
- MyProtein — published quality assurance documentation: Informed Choice, Informed Protein, and additional third-party testing programs.
- Consumer Reports, October 2025 and January 2026 protein testing rounds — MyProtein not included. Whey averaged ~9× less lead than plant proteins.
- USP daily limits used in the Labdoor panel: lead 5 µg, arsenic 15 µg, cadmium 5 µg, mercury 15 µg. California OEHHA, Prop 65 safe harbor for lead: 0.5 µg/day.
Last Updated: July 10, 2026
Affiliate Disclosure: This article contains Amazon affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with verified independent testing or certification. Learn more.