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.

  • Lumidaub@feddit.org
    2·
    2 days ago

    Edit4: 0.02 mg? 3 mg? I hate numbers. Don’t listen to me, I know nothing.

    Edit3: so as far as I can tell for now (and I’m not good with numbers), it’s 0.02 mcg of lead per kg for food in powder form in the EU. Which does mean that 6.3 mcg per 90 g serving of Huel exceeds that by far.

    So why can they sell this in the EU? I am distressed.

    Edit: wait. What? Am I seeing this correctly that EU laws set the upper limit at 25 20 mcg per kg of body weight per week? Because that is WAY more than the upper limit set by CR. (Or is it?)

    Edit2: I am now very unsure about all these numbers and I can’t find any clear information. Goddammit.

    One serving of Huel’s Black Edition powder contained 6.3 micrograms of lead, or about 1,290 percent of CR’s daily lead limit.

    _**FUCK.**_

    One serving of Huel’s Black Edition plant-based protein powder contained 9.2 micrograms of cadmium, more than double the level that public health authorities and CR’s experts say may be harmful to have daily, which is 4.1 micrograms.

    **_FUCK._**
    • Skyrmir@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      2 days ago

      It’s worth noting that the safe levels of lead are determined by when it causes organ damage. A much higher limit than the point at which lead causes neurological damage. Which is 0. There is no neurologically safe level of lead.