Some protein powders and shakes tested by Consumer Reports contained levels of lead, a heavy metal, that experts say could raise the risk of long-term health problems.

Scientists hired by Consumer Reports, an independent non-profit based out of the U.S., tested 23 popular protein products, and found lead levels ranging from zero to 7.7 micrograms per serving — above the stringent limits set by the state of California, but below U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standard for females of childbearing age.

There is no safe level of lead for human consumption, though it finds its way into many foods because lead is present in the environment.

  • TheGiantKorean@lemmy.today
    41·
    2 days ago

    This is not really a big deal.

    https://news.immunologic.org/p/consumer-reports-latest-panic-toxic

    The MADL for lead outlined by Proposition 65 is 0.5 µg of lead per day. This value was set, arbitrarily in 1989, even though scientific evidence continues to show that it’s wildly unrealistic and not remotely near an exposure that would be a health concern. It remains unchanged because Prop 65 is a political tool, not a scientific one. Consumer Reports decides to ignore FDA interim reference levels for lead in their assessment. These levels are 8.8 µg per day for reproductive age females and 12.5 µg for general adults, 17.6-times and 25-times higher daily exposure levels compared to the Prop 65 levels, respectively, and are already extremely conservative (more on how those are calculated in a moment).

    Not saying you shouldn’t take it into consideration, but it’s not as big of a deal as CR is making it out to be.

    • Zorsith@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      3·
      1 day ago

      There is no “safe” amount of lead. It doesn’t get passed out of the body through biological functions, it accumulates (in bone, IIRC)

      • TheGiantKorean@lemmy.today
        1·
        1 day ago

        It accumulates in bone, yes, but not all of it does. It also collects in blood and organs where it is passes fairly quickly. The FDA sets their guidelines based on safe blood levels of lead and their recommendation is I think 1/10 the actual value to build in a pretty big safety buffer.

        We’re already exposed to lead constantly through the environment, etc. It’s not just present in foods and other man made things. It’s definitely in many of the foods we eat, not just protein powder. Root vegetables, grain crops, etc. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0963996920303951

        I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad idea to try your best, but I also don’t think it’s worth stressing over with these protein powders compared to other stuff you may already be ingesting.