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Whats in your Protein Powder? (new study)

Wetcoaster
Wetcoaster Posts: 1,788 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
According to Consumer Reports, the non-profit organization tested 134 top-selling protein powders and drinks for more than 130 toxins, including heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury), Bisphenol A (BPA), and pesticides
    Story

    http://nationalpost.com/life/food/whats-in-your-protein-powder-study-finds-popular-supplements-may-contain-lead-and-arsenic


    Link to study

    http://staging-cleanlabelproject.kinsta.com/protein-powder/#1519358830209-73b30bc9-449c






    Replies

    • cathipa
      cathipa Posts: 2,991 Member
      Would be curious to know the amounts and how they compare to tap water since it also has these same components.
    • MonaRaeHill
      MonaRaeHill Posts: 145 Member
      NONE of my protein powders made those lists. I was a bit surprised to see one that I used to use (who had independent testing), get only 3 stars. Glad I dropped it, it was making me queasy. None of the ones I use now, are ever on any mainstream testing sites. Pays to do your own research.
    • singingflutelady
      singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
      edited March 2018
      Mine didn't make the list either. Surprised Vega was so bad since it is $$$. I won some a few years ago and it tasted disgusting. Also surprising seeing body fortress in top 5 since it's the cheapest one they sell in my area
    • fuzzylop72
      fuzzylop72 Posts: 651 Member
      Non peer reviewed study from the same organization that was heavily criticized for their very similar baby food study.
    • huskydoo
      huskydoo Posts: 112 Member
      Study is bogus in my opinion

      Optimum nutrition gets a 5 star brand rating with some of the worse contamination levels and low nutritional superiority score. Muscle Tech gets a 3 star brand rating with better contamination levels and higher nutritional superiority score.

      Huh?
    • MichelleSilverleaf
      MichelleSilverleaf Posts: 2,027 Member
      Bogus study by a bogus group. Hard pass.
    • lemurcat12
      lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
      There was an earlier CR claim that was almost identical. Alan Aragon took it apart, but I can't find his blog post now, it might no longer be available (I've linked in at least 2 other threads).

      Luckily someone else got Alan to comment: http://nicktumminello.com/2010/07/poison-protein-and-consumer-reports-nutrition-expert-alan-aragon-speaks-out/

      Although this is about the old study, again, it sounds similar.

      Here is ON's response to the old one. Obviously, they have a bias, but I think their provision of data for other foods is important information left out of the other one: https://www.netrition.com/Consumer_Reports_OptimumNutrition_response.pdf

      I'll also say that I think the commentary from the original link shows a weird bias, and I've seen it elsewhere too. There seems to be this idea that people are consuming protein powder in enormous amounts or instead of other foods to a great degree and that this must be bad -- the debunking of the idea that people need huge amounts of protein or protein powders.

      It's entirely possible -- hard as they may find it to believe -- that people just enjoy using protein powder in some ways, or find it convenient.
    This discussion has been closed.

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