Most Lead in Protein Powder: Tested Products Ranked

Independent testing reveals significant variation in lead contamination across protein powder brands. This interactive chart ranks all tested products by lead content per serving, with color-coded concern levels based on California Prop 65 standards.

Products Tested

Exceed Prop 65

Low Concern

40%

Above Limit

Concern Level Legend (based on Prop 65: 0.5 µg/day)

Low (≤0.5 µg) — 9 products

Moderate (0.5-1 µg) — 2 products

High (1-5 µg) — 2 products

Avoid (>5 µg) — 2 products

🇺🇸 United States • 23 Products (incl. NSF-only)

Lead content per serving. Lower = safer

Show standards:

Loading chart...

SupplementMath.com

Lower values = safer. Bars are color-coded by concern level.

NSF Certified (≤10µg, no independent testing)

Certification Standards Comparison

California Prop 65

0.5 µg/day — strictest verified limit

NSF Certified for Sport

≤10 µg/day — 20x higher than Prop 65

Use the toggles above the chart to compare products against different standards.

Key Findings

Highest Lead Content

Vegan Mass by NAKED has the highest lead content at 7.7 µg per serving — 15.4x Prop 65's limit.

Lowest Lead Content

Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate by Muscle Feast has the lowest detected lead at 0.00 µg per serving, well below Prop 65 limits.

Products Exceeding Prop 65

6 out of 15 tested products (40%) exceed California Prop 65's lead limit.

Why Plant-Based Has More Lead

Plant-based proteins test higher for lead due to soil absorption — plants absorb lead from soil, and protein powders concentrate it.

How to Choose Lower-Lead Products

Choose whey over plant-based: Animal proteins consistently test lower for lead
Target ≤0.5 µg/serving: Meets California Prop 65 standards
Opt for vanilla over chocolate: Chocolate often has higher lead
Check actual test data: Don't assume certification means low lead (NSF allows 20x Prop 65)

Data Sources: Consumer Reports 2025, Labdoor, Clean Label Project. Lead content is reported per serving. Concern levels are based on California Prop 65's Maximum Allowable Dose Level (MADL) of 0.5 µg/day for lead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which protein powder has the most lead?

Based on independent testing data, Vegan Mass by NAKED has the highest lead content at 7.7 µg per serving. This is 1540% of California Prop 65's daily limit (0.5 µg). View the full ranking in the chart above.

How many protein powders exceed California Prop 65 limits?

6 out of 15 tested products (40%) exceed California Prop 65's lead limit of 0.5 µg per day. Prop 65 sets the strictest lead limits in the United States.

Which protein powders have the lowest lead?

Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate by Muscle Feast has the lowest detected lead level at 0.00 µg per serving. Products with lead levels below 0.5 µg are considered "low concern" and meet California Prop 65 standards.

Do plant-based protein powders have more lead?

Yes, plant-based protein powders consistently test higher for lead than whey or casein. Plants absorb lead from soil more readily than animals. Pea protein, rice protein, and other plant crops naturally accumulate lead from soil.