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 14 October, 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 .

I am a clinical pharmacologist who has evaluated the heavy metal content of baby food , calcium supplements , and kratom products . Lead and other heavy metals occur naturally in soil and water , so achieving zero-level exposure would be impossible.

Additionally, the level of lead exposure that Consumer Reports deems saf

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