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.

  • evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world
    9·
    2 days ago

    Huel is a company founded in the EU (now brexited), but as a meal replacement, my guess is the formula is the same everywhere.

    It sounds like the ingredients come from all over the world, so it’s probably a roll of the dice whether whatever lot you end up with contains material grown in soil with too high of a lead content.

    • Lumidaub@feddit.org
      3·
      2 days ago

      I’ve been trying to find EU regulation and it seems like EU limits are WAY above what CR set. So now I’m confused.

      Edit: or maybe not? I’m unclear on what I’m seeing.

      • evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world
        3·
        2 days ago

        It looks like the EU’s limit for supplements is 3 mg/kg.

        https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/915/oj/eng

        Consumer reports “level of concern” is ug/day. They tested Huel at 6.3 ug per 90 g serving, or 70 ug/kg (.07 mg/kg).

        Basically Huel only hits 2.3% of the EU limits. It looks like the EU regulates “supplements” assuming they are like pills or something where you’d only consume a few grams a day. Compare it to salt, with a limit of 1 mg/kg. Something that you’d actually be expected to eat a lot of, like grain, has a limit of 0.2 mg/kg. Basically, it’s still below the limit there, but getting close.

        The US limit for grain is .02 mg/kg, so 10x more strict than the EU. I’m not sure about supplements, though.

        • Lumidaub@feddit.org
          2·
          2 days ago

          Hilariously I stopped reading like 5 lines above that and misunderstood everything, goddammit. Thank you.

          I do (possibly foolishly) have a lot of faith in EU regulation in general so now I’m very cautiously optimistic I won’t have to starve. I’ll have to find out more about these limits on supplements and where they come from and who set them based on what and if they even apply to Huel.