Your Plant-Based Protein Powder Is Likely Full of Lead and Arsenic: Check This List
![](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/5AL8dK5XEgBUc8lkvQ9cZvmT77E=/fit-in/792x528/top/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/912/n/1922729/808f54af5a9dae78dc6d07.26674333_.jpg)
"Approximately 75 percent of protein powders had measurable levels of lead." Stunned? Us too. If you're a protein-powder junkie, it might be time to reassess — especially if you use a plant-based blend.
Clean Label Project, the U.S. nonprofit focused on health and transparency in product labelling, just completed a study of 134 of the top-selling protein powders in North America. Using a "third-party, independent analytical chemistry laboratory," they found that nearly half of the powders had "significant amounts" of "lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and BPA." Holy sh*t is right.
One of the most eye-opening findings was that plant-based protein powders are actually more toxic than whey- or milk-protein powders, with plant-based containing "on average twice the amount of lead per serving," in addition to more "mercury, cadmium and arsenic . . . in several cases above health-based guidelines."
And if you thought you were safe with a "certified organic" powder, think again: "Certified organic products averaged twice as much heavy metals."
The safest bet? Anything egg-based. Apparently those were the cleanest/safest of the tested bunch. We'll let you look through the list Clean Label Project shared with POPSUGAR, but here's the gist of the best and worst:
Best, Safest Powders (least contaminants, highest nutrition)
- Puori
- BioChem
- Body Fortress
- Performix
- Pure Protein
Worst Powders (most contaminants, least nutrition)
- Vega
- 360Cut
- Quest
- Nature's Best
- Garden of Life
![A Brief Breakdown:](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/EscUxuomVR8kmHTTiIzTMstxDjc=/fit-in/792x1825/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/ff8c7edc7120cbf9_Protein_Brand_Ranking_Report_Card-01.jpg)
A Brief Breakdown:
![Fast Facts](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/C36jhzO992dv196pAGfTwk_xnA8=/fit-in/792x1751/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/b0eb154bb8983b42_Protein_Powder_Infographic-01.jpg)
Fast Facts
![Aloha](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/wENdNp4MNPunVw4AkcxRn3p5UyE=/fit-in/792x1188/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/fc0f9ebeff619f66_All_Brands_Report_Cards_Protein_Powder_Round1_Artboard_1.jpg)
Aloha
![Ancient Nutrition](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/XDP3F_aMmlUuCCA-geeKDvuT_jI=/fit-in/792x1187/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/7a3992bbe60f2290_All_Brands_Report_Cards_Protein_Powder_Round1_Artboard_1_copy_2.jpg)
Ancient Nutrition
![BioChem](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/D1Qm15jtP32mXZOZONHBWdB5Ah8=/fit-in/792x1187/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/11782f62bbe3a64a_All_Brands_Report_Cards_Protein_Powder_Round1_Artboard_1_copy_3.jpg)
BioChem
![Body Fortress](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/gtP5Vaq0-34pi-DOa9iCegmx6lw=/fit-in/792x1187/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/cd689798ea7fbcab_All_Brands_Report_Cards_Protein_Powder_Round1_Artboard_1_copy_4.jpg)
Body Fortress
![BSN](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/Ka8-PPWUtrsPfoV5_0N4fUuWMT4=/fit-in/792x1187/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/c96d6bcea79a7737_All_Brands_Report_Cards_Protein_Powder_Round1_Artboard_1_copy_5.jpg)
BSN
![Garden of Life](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/DRi76cmq4TcF7fn-oqrJf6iQNx0=/fit-in/792x1188/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/daa5667dd8e9bca9_All_Brands_Report_Cards_Protein_Powder_Round1_Artboard_1_copy_6.jpg)
Garden of Life
![Jarrow Formulas](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/4SkyKGoW1vwhVfnrFTq3V3u4e9M=/fit-in/792x1188/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/2cfba70e3987bde6_All_Brands_Report_Cards_Protein_Powder_Round1_Artboard_1_copy_7.jpg)
Jarrow Formulas
![Jay Robb](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/KcLXcOf7zkceAJFs2s6SAlFCrEQ=/fit-in/792x1188/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/c1b927c01928483e_All_Brands_Report_Cards_Protein_Powder_Round1_Artboard_1_copy_8.jpg)
Jay Robb
![MusclePharm](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/eNuhqKWHANC9uHYB2cqZ6wKBYco=/fit-in/792x1188/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/1c4175f591345f89_All_Brands_Report_Cards_Protein_Powder_Round1_Artboard_1_copy_9.jpg)
MusclePharm
![Natural Factors](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/ZrFXV3L9vALAwOu8mfwvyi1tkzo=/fit-in/792x1188/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/c2e397750ac50451_All_Brands_Report_Cards_Protein_Powder_Round1_Artboard_1_copy_10.jpg)
Natural Factors
![Nature's Best](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/RQpWsh9JfUqrrcL2lEBfVrmflUA=/fit-in/792x1188/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/f3a4777dc1aef6a4_All_Brands_Report_Cards_Protein_Powder_Round1_Artboard_1_copy_11.jpg)
Nature's Best
![Natures Plus](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/lQV9DtdEcArqaMtJLEYqWhXu1xQ=/fit-in/792x1188/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/a3b267c3b443566c_All_Brands_Report_Cards_Protein_Powder_Round1_Artboard_1_copy_12.jpg)
Natures Plus
![Now Sports](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/liIdxAZn45BNfplO5f3kDTy3RsI=/fit-in/792x1188/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/4a2b3bea5e7d3bd3_All_Brands_Report_Cards_Protein_Powder_Round1_Artboard_1_copy_13.jpg)
Now Sports
![Optimum Nutrition](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/4vw_OzKjv9fMeJmhwEesVh-4oFM=/fit-in/792x1188/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/464605006b67d204_All_Brands_Report_Cards_Protein_Powder_Round1_Artboard_1_copy_14.jpg)
Optimum Nutrition
![PlantFusion](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/MPO558v-zi5ur4LgrJgUMXm4HU8=/fit-in/792x1188/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/9125fd5787e40bfc_All_Brands_Report_Cards_Protein_Powder_Round1_Artboard_1_copy_15.jpg)
PlantFusion
![Quest Nutrition](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/0zvzpqBP6x8QX2NeelU8_ChxsfU=/fit-in/792x1187/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/7432075c9334695f_All_Brands_Report_Cards_Protein_Powder_Round1_Artboard_1_copy_16.jpg)
Quest Nutrition
![Reserveage Nutrition](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/ojkwU5-BoaUsTygBqhtaSg_vl9E=/fit-in/792x1187/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/863dfeb031a17d6c_All_Brands_Report_Cards_Protein_Powder_Round1_Artboard_1_copy_17.jpg)
Reserveage Nutrition
![Sunwarrior](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/mEn0zx3RAQHMPus2p-byLOe_ACM=/fit-in/792x1187/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/6f3c23271b98a9d7_All_Brands_Report_Cards_Protein_Powder_Round1_Artboard_1_copy_18.jpg)
Sunwarrior
![Tera's Whey](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/QiC55UuzzHrmHRoohnwtb4CvUGo=/fit-in/792x1187/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/83aa3819e1929481_All_Brands_Report_Cards_Protein_Powder_Round1_Artboard_1_copy_19.jpg)
Tera's Whey
![Vega](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/imflIIlr1HQD4mDc_pLBCpHTIWI=/fit-in/792x1187/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/ea6d20318a40e2b5_All_Brands_Report_Cards_Protein_Powder_Round1_Artboard_1_copy_20.jpg)
Vega
![Puori](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/8E0Dhu_U_ANZsPtbWxpZA5gVNUI=/fit-in/792x1188/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/fc832e2d44876fa3_All_Brands_Report_Cards_Protein_Powder_Round1_Artboard_1_copy_21.jpg)
Puori
![Performix](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/K41gS8ToDRusvPsc7LzO_fuzjE4=/fit-in/792x1188/filters:format_auto():upscale()/2018/03/05/904/n/1922729/6a0aef4b8171abb6_All_Brands_Report_Cards_Protein_Powder_Round1_Artboard_1_copy_22.jpg)