The most comprehensive supplement safety data compiled from Consumer Reports, Clean Label Project, and independent lab testing of 134+ brands. Every stat is copy-paste ready.
"In my audit of 134+ brands, the most alarming trend is that 'Organic' labels are no guarantee of heavy metal safety. In fact, organic plant proteins often test higher for lead due to soil-based accumulation."
Using these stats in an article? Every statistic below includes its source and a one-click copy button. Please link back to this page when citing.
All statistics on this page are derived from independent third-party testing. No supplement manufacturer funded or influenced this audit.
of top-selling protein powders exceeded safe daily lead limits in 2026
of tested proteins showed concerning heavy metal contamination levels
of tested products — only 7 out of 23 — are verified safe for daily use
— the worst product (Naked Nutrition Vegan) exceeded the safe lead limit by this multiple
Only 1 out of 23 tested products achieved completely undetectable lead levels — MuscleTech 100% Mass Gainer.
2 products received "AVOID" ratings — Naked Nutrition Vegan Mass Gainer (7.86 µg) and Huel Black Edition (6.3 µg).
134+ protein brands have been analyzed in the Clean Protein List safety database.
21 brands are currently verified safe by independent third-party testing.
The safe daily lead limit is 0.5 micrograms, per California Proposition 65 — the strictest benchmark in the U.S.
more lead in plant-based proteins on average compared to whey equivalents
of plant-based proteins failed independent safety standards — 14 of 15 tested
plant protein passed — OWYN Pro Elite is the only verified-safe plant option
Only 1 in 8 plant-based RTD shakes passed 2026 purity standards.
All 4 of the worst-ranked products in testing were plant-based.
13 of the bottom 15 products tested were plant-based proteins.
Whey proteins are 10–15× less contaminated with heavy metals than plant proteins on average.
Plant proteins absorb heavy metals directly from agricultural soil through root uptake — this contamination concentrates during protein extraction.
Dairy-based whey protein contamination comes from feed and water sources — a fundamentally lower-risk pathway than soil absorption.
of chocolate-flavored proteins exceeded safe lead limits — vs only 35% of vanilla
more cadmium in chocolate proteins than vanilla equivalents
of chocolate plant-based proteins tested passed safety standards
Cocoa beans naturally accumulate cadmium from volcanic tropical soils — manufacturing and processing cannot remove it.
Dark chocolate flavored proteins produced the highest cadmium readings in testing at 3.1 µg per serving.
heavy metals tested in every audit: lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury
years — cadmium's half-life in the human body, causing irreversible kidney damage
more arsenic in rice protein compared to pea protein
Cadmium is classified as a WHO Group 1 carcinogen — the highest cancer-risk classification.
Mercury contamination is rare but detected in some plant protein blends containing marine-sourced ingredients.
heavy metals tested by USDA Organic certification — "Organic" does not mean lead-free
banned substances tested by NSF Certified for Sport — but safe daily heavy metal limits are not included
proteins earned "Clean 16" purity certification out of 130+ tested
Professional ICP-MS lab testing for lead costs $150–$500 per sample with a 2–4 week turnaround.
At-home lead test kits are 1,000–5,000× too insensitive to detect lead at food-safety levels.
A class action lawsuit was filed against Garden of Life in Dec 2025 over lead in its "Organic" protein — DeHerrera v. Garden of Life LLC, Case #5:25-cv-03118.
of generic creatine samples contain DCD (dicyandiamide) contamination
purity in pharmaceutical-grade Creapure creatine vs 95–98% for generic brands
— generic creatine DHT contamination reaches up to 35× the safe limit (110 mg/kg vs 3 mg/kg)
DCD converts to hydrogen cyanide in the acidic environment of the human stomach (pH 1.5–3.5).
110+ brands worldwide now use verified Creapure creatine from AlzChem Trostberg GmbH.
faster lead absorption in teenagers vs adults (20–30% vs 5–10%)
annual lead exposure from daily use of the worst product vs the safe annual limit
— age until which the brain remains vulnerable to permanent neurotoxic damage from lead
Lead crosses the placenta and causes irreversible neurodevelopmental damage during all three trimesters.
Lead accumulates in bones and blood — it does not flush from the body naturally.
Lead levels and verdicts for the most-discussed brands. Full database: Lead in Protein Powder — Complete List →
| Rank | Brand / Product | Lead per Serving | vs 0.5 µg Limit | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | MuscleTech 100% Mass Gainer | Not Detected | ✅ Safe | ✅ Safe |
| #2 | Dymatize ISO-100 | Below Detection | ✅ Safe | ✅ Safe |
| #3 | Momentous Whey Isolate | Below Detection | ✅ Safe | ✅ Safe |
| #4 | BSN Syntha-6 | Below Detection | ✅ Safe | ✅ Safe |
| #5 | Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard | Below Detection | ✅ Safe | ✅ Safe |
| #7 | OWYN Pro Elite (plant) | Below Detection | ✅ Safe | ✅ Safe |
| #9 ★ | Clean Simple Eats (Chocolate) | 0.21 µg | ✅ 42% of limit | ✅ Safe |
| #10 ★ | Equate — Walmart | 0.27 µg | ✅ 54% of limit | ✅ Safe |
| #11 ★ | Premier Protein Powder | 0.38 µg | ✅ 76% of limit | ✅ Safe |
| #12 ★ | Truvani (plant) | 0.46 µg | ✅ 92% of limit | ✅ Safe |
| — | Orgain Organic (plant) | 0.72 µg | ⚠️ 1.44× limit | ⚠️ Not Daily |
| #17 | Muscle Milk | 1.25 µg | ⚠️ 2.5× limit | ⚠️ Not Daily |
| — | Garden of Life Organic (plant) | 2.76 µg | 🚨 5.5× limit | 🚨 Avoid |
| #22 | Huel Black Edition (plant) | 6.3 µg | 🚨 12.6× limit | 🚨 Avoid |
| #23 | Naked Nutrition Vegan (plant) | 7.86 µg | 🚨 15.7× limit | 🚨 Avoid |
★ = Tested in January 2026 update. Ranks from Consumer Reports Oct 2025 (original 23 brands); ★ ranks reflect the combined dataset. "—" = rank shifted after Jan 2026 additions. Safe limit = 0.5 µg lead / day (CA Prop 65). (plant) = plant-based formula.
additional brands tested in January 2026 — all 5 passed safety standards
verified-safe plant proteins now exist — Truvani joined OWYN Pro Elite
per serving — Equate (Walmart) is the cheapest tested-and-verified safe protein