According to a new study from The Clean Label Project, an American non-profit organisation that investigates the safety and claims of labels, a good portion of the most popular protein supplements may have unsafe levels of metals and toxins.

In fact, out of the 134 products tested, more than 90% contained detectable levels of at least one metal including: lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic and 55 percent had a presence of the toxin Bisphenol A (BPA), this chemical is often found in plastic containers and food wrappers.

Consumption of all of the metals and toxins listed above has been linked to cancer and other serious conditions. The study also found that protein supplements derived from sources such as soy contained more harmful metals and toxins than their whey (milk) or egg counterparts.

This is thought to be due to the plant-based proteins absorbing additional metals from the soil.

It is thought than any metals and toxins found in the whey and egg proteins are likely caused by the food eaten by the animals, of which most of the toxins are defused by their digestive systems.

Read the full study here

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