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.
15
Products Tested
6
Exceed Prop 65
9
Low Concern
40%
Above Limit
Concern Level Legend (based on Prop 65: 0.5 µg/day)
🇺🇸 United States • 23 Products (incl. NSF-only)
Lead content per serving. Lower = safer
| Product | Brand | Lead per serving | Lead per 100g protein | Concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Whey Protein Powder | Kinetica | ≤10 µg (NSF limit; no independent test) | Not tested | Not independently tested |
| Sports Whey Protein Powder | Kinetica | ≤10 µg (NSF limit; no independent test) | Not tested | Not independently tested |
| Sports Whey Protein Powder | Kinetica | ≤10 µg (NSF limit; no independent test) | Not tested | Not independently tested |
| Sports Whey Protein Powder | Kinetica | ≤10 µg (NSF limit; no independent test) | Not tested | Not independently tested |
| Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder | Optimum Nutrition | ≤10 µg (NSF limit; no independent test) | Not tested | Not independently tested |
| Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder | Optimum Nutrition | ≤10 µg (NSF limit; no independent test) | Not tested | Not independently tested |
| Whey Protein Isolate | Thorne | ≤10 µg (NSF limit; no independent test) | Not tested | Not independently tested |
| Whey Protein Isolate | Thorne | ≤10 µg (NSF limit; no independent test) | Not tested | Not independently tested |
| Vegan Mass | NAKED | 7.7 µg/serving | 15.4 µg/100g protein | Avoid |
| Black Edition | Huel | 6.3 µg/serving | 15.8 µg/100g protein | Avoid |
| Sport Organic Plant-Based Protein | Garden of Life | 2.8 µg/serving | 9.3 µg/100g protein | High |
| Vegan Protein Powder | Momentous | 2.4 µg/serving | 11.9 µg/100g protein | High |
| Organic Vegan Protein Powder | Orgain | 0.7 µg/serving | 3.4 µg/100g protein | Moderate |
| Mass Gainer | Transparent Labs | 0.7 µg/serving | 1.3 µg/100g protein | Moderate |
| Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder | Optimum Nutrition | 0.3 µg/serving | 1.2 µg/100g protein | Low |
| Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder | Optimum Nutrition | 0.3 µg/serving | 1.2 µg/100g protein | Low |
| Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder | Optimum Nutrition | 0.3 µg/serving | 1.2 µg/100g protein | Low |
| Prime Protein Powder | Equip | 0.3 µg/serving | 1.3 µg/100g protein | Low |
| Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate | Muscle Feast | <0.01 µg/serving | <0.01 µg/100g protein | Low |
| Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate | Muscle Feast | <0.01 µg/serving | <0.01 µg/100g protein | Low |
| Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate | Transparent Labs | <0.01 µg/serving | <0.01 µg/100g protein | Low |
| Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate | Transparent Labs | <0.01 µg/serving | <0.01 µg/100g protein | Low |
| Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate | Transparent Labs | <0.01 µg/serving | <0.01 µg/100g protein | Low |
SupplementMath.com
Lower values = safer. Bars are color-coded by concern level.
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.