Worried About Lead in Protein Powder? | Educational Video | Biolayne

Norton explains that the Consumer Reports testing used a threshold of 0.5 mcg per serving, which is far below the FDA's daily limit of 8.8 mcg. To exceed the FDA limit, you'd need to consume 15-20 servings of a powder at the 0.5 mcg level. The highest plant-based powder had 7 mcg per serving, so one serving is still under the FDA limit, but two servings would put you over. He suggests that if you're having multiple servings, you might want to avoid that particular powder. He also notes that fruits and vegetables contain similar amounts of lead per 500g, so if you eat the recommended amounts for health, you'll get some lead anyway. Organic vs. non-organic doesn't matter; it's about soil. He personally isn't worried, but if you want to minimize, check the list.

Norton points out that lead is naturally present in soil, so any plant-based product will contain trace amounts. The Prop 65 threshold of 0.5 mcg per serving is so low that many foods, including fruits and vegetables, would approach or exceed it when consumed in recommended daily amounts. He notes that the highest plant-based powder tested had 7 mcg per serving, still below the FDA daily limit, but if someone consumes multiple servings per day, they might exceed it, so they could choose a lower-lead option. He emphasizes that the dose makes the poison, and the amounts are in parts per billion. He's not dismissing lead avoidance entirely, but the risk from these levels is negligible.