Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an industry-wide investigation into protein powder manufacturers over concerns that popular products contain heavy metals such as lead and cadmium.
The probe will examine whether companies violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by misrepresenting the safety or contents of their products or failing to disclose known information about heavy metal contamination, Paxton’s office announced on Monday.
The investigation follows independent testing by Consumer Reports and the Clean Label Project. Consumer Reports examined 23 products and reported that lead levels in plant-based protein powders averaged 9 times higher than those in dairy-based options such as whey and were twice as high as in beef-based products. Three of the tested items also surpassed Consumer Reports’ threshold of concern for cadmium and inorganic arsenic.
The Clean Label Project tested 160 protein powder products and found that 47% exceeded California Proposition 65 limits for toxic heavy metals in a single serving, according to the announcement.
Paxton’s office cited health risks tied to chronic lead exposure, including immune suppression, reproductive problems, kidney damage, and elevated blood pressure in adults. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has stated there is no known safe level of lead exposure. Children, pregnant women, and older adults face heightened risk from heavy metal exposure, according to the release.
“Protein is a vital macronutrient for human health, and Texans deserve clean protein powders without having to worry whether the products contain heavy metals or other harmful chemicals,” Paxton said. “Far too many corporations have snuck harmful ingredients in their products, and I am committed to doing everything I can to help Make America Healthy Again.”
The attorney general’s office said the inquiry will assess whether manufacturers falsely marketed their products or withheld information about contamination in violation of Texas law.
