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.
I was heartened to see this explained in a very mainstream text - The Bowflex Body Plan. IIRC, the author actually went to school and was a body builder while in school. He had a professor (of nutrition?) tell him to measure it. He was shocked to learn that he was literally pissing away huge amounts of money.
This book was published over 20 years ago, and I think the protein myth has only gotten worse since then. It’s not just the gym rats doing “bro science”, it seems even soccer moms and people that probably don’t even do mild exercise all have this perverse idea that they are going to die without supplementing large amounts of protein.
Yup. A context-free factoid goes viral, and then someone figures out how to profit off the suckers.