Toxic protein drinks: Consumer Reports

Centered

Hall of Fame
Consumer Reports said:
All drinks in our tests had at least one sample containing one or more of the following contaminants: arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury.

Great...

Muscle Milk and Myoplex were the worst for arsenic contamination.

link

Consumer Reports said:
The Food and Drug Administration has not established heavy metal limits for protein supplements and there are only a few established for foods.

California legislation known as Proposition 65 has established daily safe harbor limits for toxic substances. And eight of the 15 protein supplements exceeded those limits for lead in just one serving.

An FDA report lists heavy metal content for a variety of foods and indicates that foods such as milk, yogurt, eggs, poultry and red meats are generally good protein sources that seem to contain little or no cadmium, lead, arsenic or mercury.

Caveat emptor indeed.
 

WildVolley

Legend
When I want extra protein I eat hard-boiled eggs. Cheaper than the protein mixes and, in my experience, just as convenient.

However, I have no idea if eggs have the same sort of contamination.
 

Centered

Hall of Fame
Organic food in the US is the biggest rip off ever. hell 20% of it comes from China.

Buying organic isnt all its hyped up to be.
But arsenic is?

grist said:
The daughter's urine levels revealed double the arsenic that the FDA considers toxic, and the boy was 75 percent above that limit.

Fake organic doesn't mean organic = bad. It makes Chinese fakery is bad.

ScienceDaily said:
About 70 percent of the 9 billion broiler chickens produced annually in the U.S. are fed a diet containing roxarsone, the article points out.

Complicating the issue is the fact that no one knows the exact amount of arsenic found in chicken meat or ingested by consumers who frequently eat chicken. "Neither the Food and Drug Administration nor the Department of Agriculture has actually measured the level of arsenic in the poultry meat that most people consume," according to the article.
 

Talker

Hall of Fame
Doesn't look good. But I didn't want to just grab the story line and run with it.
The results were from 3 servings of each protein, but checking how many grams of protein in each 3 servings it ranged from 27g protein to a high of 180 grams of protein. 180!!! :shock:

It would be best to go with 50g so all would be the same. The results penalize the proteins that have larger amounts of products in their servings. This is very bad to start with as taking more you will get more.
They mention that experts say 3 servings a day is normal.

The maximum limits for them in dietary supplements proposed by the U.S. Pharmacopeia are:
arsenic (inorganic), 15 micrograms (µg) per day;
cadmium, 5 µg;
lead, 10 µg;
mercury, 15 µg.
Amounts at or exceeding those limits are in bold. Experts said three servings a day is common.
If you normalize it to 50 grams of protein for each product none of them are over the limits. I still don't like anything added to what I probably get from normal food. So I would need measurements in other protein sources like chicken, beef etc to see if they have more or less than the protein.

Here's the chart, notice the amounts listed.
The ones in bold type are over the limit.


protein-drinks.jpg
 

Archmage

New User
I'm not surprised... most of those are junk brands.

As for arsenic in the chicken... meh... I buy organic when cooking at home, and if I eat out, it's only once in a while so I figure my body can deal with it. There's some amount of contamination in most of our food anyway...

Observation: I've seen a few tests for heavy metals (hair, urine, blood) - and most of the time, arsenic is not elevated (even when other metals are). I doubt the samples I've seen are from people who've specifically avoided chicken.
 

GuyClinch

Legend
Buying organic isnt all its hyped up to be.

I agree with this. I recently learned there is something they are allowed to use on fruits and vegetables called ORGANIC PESTICIDES.

These chemcials are dangerous even worse then regular pesticides because they are far more broad spectrum.

Consumers cannot assume that a product is environmentally friendly just because it is organic. A new study shows that some organic pesticides can have a higher environmental impact than conventional pesticides.

I mean WTH.. I was pretty disappointed to learn this honestly..
 

maverick66

Hall of Fame
I agree with this. I recently learned there is something they are allowed to use on fruits and vegetables called ORGANIC PESTICIDES.

It is an extremely dishonest product. People think they are getting this great product when they are not.

I am all for farmers markets if you have those in your town but the big grocery markets selling organic are just charging you more for something that isnt worth it.
 

Centered

Hall of Fame
Legitimate studies have found things like dramatically lower pesticide residues on organic produce. Studies have found higher nutrient density, too.

If you anti-organic folk have some evidence for your claims that's fine, but make sure you post it. I think it's rather interesting that this topic was about heavy metal contamination in protein drinks/powders and is suddenly about how organic food production is supposedly a bigger scam.

Does anyone have any evidence that organic products are more likely to have the arsenic/lead/cadmium contamination found in these protein drinks?
 
I have a 1lb bag of Isopure protein powder that I use occasionally when I just don't feel like eating any more chicken breasts, egg whites, or greek yogurt but I can't even begin to imagine eating it once or twice a day. That stuff is nasty :(
 

GuyClinch

Legend
If you anti-organic folk have some evidence for your claims that's fine, but make sure you post it. I think it's rather interesting that this topic was about heavy metal contamination in protein drinks/powders and is suddenly about how organic food production is supposedly a bigger scam.

I am not 'anti-organic' but its not pesticide free - its just "organic approved" pesticides. I'd like to see the evidence for YOUR claims..

For some backaround..

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~lhom/organictext.html

Contrary to what most people believe, "organic" does not automatically mean "pesticide-free" or "chemical-free". In fact, under the laws of most states, organic farmers are allowed to use a wide variety of chemical sprays and powders on their crops.

So what does organic mean? It means that these pesticides, if used, must be derived from natural sources, not synthetically manufactured. Also, these pesticides must be applied using equipment that has not been used to apply any synthetic materials for the past three years, and the land being planted cannot have been treated with synthetic materials for that period either.

Additionally (and this is important) organic pesticides aren't really tested for toxicology the way inorganic ones are.

Here is an article talking about a study which points out that organic pesticides aren't better for the enviroment then synthetic ones.

http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2010/06/organic-pesticide-not-a-guarantee-of-green-pesticide.ars

Anyway I don't claim to be a toxicology expert. What I do claim is that "organic" foods (and farmers) have FALSELY been letting the impression that they DO NOT have pesticides on them. When in fact they have ORGANIC pesticides all over them - which are also dangerous.

This is what you missed from those studies that show less SYNTHETIC pesticides on "organic" foods. This is of course true.
What they didn't tell you (or at least me) is that organic foods are grown with "natural pesticides" like

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotenone

The PROBLEM is that pesticides that are 'organic" are broad spectrum. They kill EVERYTHING even us. Whereas a modern non-organic pesticide is targeted to at least kill bugs better then us.

So what is really going on at the consumer levels isn't "chemical' vs. chemical free produce. Its just favoring one set of chemicals over another and the science proves these arent' all "good chemicals."

That being said I often buy organic produce because its a more 'premium' product here in the US and usually you get better taste and quality.
 

Centered

Hall of Fame
What I've been told is that there is a synthetic pesticide that's approved for organic farming because it breaks down completely before the food makes it to market, leaving no residue. It's not used much at all in conventional farming due to its expense.

This is the first I've heard, ever, of any controversy over "organic pesticides". I'll look into it more, but I have to say I'm skeptical, because I've seen a lot of anti-organic propaganda and no one even mentioned this angle.

As for the pesticide residue issue, I think it's a strong claim of fraud to assert that every study or summary of studies that found lower "pesticide residues" is really only referring to a specific type of pesticide in order to mislead the public. "Organic pesticide" wouldn't be the correct phrase, in any case, when referring to a pesticide considered appropriate for organic farming. The word would be natural. Many synthetic pesticides are organic molecules. DDT is an organic pesticide, for instance.

Ok, I just read the Ars Technica article and I have to take issue with the terminology as well as the way the author didn't note that the issue here isn't so much a matter of organic production being equivalent to conventional production but rather it's about specific pesticides used. People should not call pesticides "organic pesticides" unless they're talking about the chemical (organic versus inorganic). "Pesticides commonly used in organic farming" may be a lot to say, but that's accurate.

And, of course, it's true that simply because something is natural doesn't mean it's safer than something synthetic. But, that doesn't mean other aspects of organic farming don't matter and the apparent fact that one type of pesticide used in organic farming is not ideal. Some organic farmers don't use chemical pesticides.

Studies have found lower "pesticide residues" (I doubt they were lying by only considering synthetic organic pesticides and not specifying that) on organic produce and higher vitamin/mineral content.
 
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FedererUberAlles

Professional
Synthetic pesticides are pretty nasty. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster

I buy some organic things. Organic eggs aren't unreasonable, as the farmer's town is usually printed on the carton. My eggs come from a town 45 minutes away.

I think it's funny how quick people are to jump against organic, free range, whatever. Go read about conventional farming practices. Feeding cows corn? Giving chickens no light? It goes on and on.

I don't mean that organic is the savior of food. A lot of it is overpriced and pretentious. Conventional food has even greater fundamental problems, however.
 

maverick66

Hall of Fame
I think it's funny how quick people are to jump against organic, free range, whatever. Go read about conventional farming practices. Feeding cows corn? Giving chickens no light? It goes on and on.

I don't mean that organic is the savior of food. A lot of it is overpriced and pretentious. Conventional food has even greater fundamental problems, however.

The problem with organic food is there is very little regulation on it. I am all for free range meats and local farmers markets but if you go into a major grocery store the odds are what you are getting is neither.
 

FedererUberAlles

Professional
Back to toxic protein stuff:

Today I was at costco and they have a pretty good deal on protein powder -- six pounds for a little less than $30. Too bad it's muscle milk brand. I'll pass on the cadmium
 

West Coast Ace

G.O.A.T.
Great...

Muscle Milk and Myoplex were the worst for arsenic contamination.
I guess I'm doomed. I've been a hardcore Myoplex guy for a few years now. I thought I could trust the Canadians. :(

And to the person who said protein drinks taste like crap, you've never had their Cookies & Cream. Yum!
 

Centered

Hall of Fame
The problem with organic food is there is very little regulation on it. I am all for free range meats and local farmers markets but if you go into a major grocery store the odds are what you are getting is neither.
That's not a problem with organic production itself. It's a problem with government.

Citizens need to pressure their governments.
 

maverick66

Hall of Fame
That's not a problem with organic production itself. It's a problem with government.

Citizens need to pressure their governments.

No its is a problem with organic farmers because they are not giving you what they say they are. That is a huge dishonest practice to make money. They are taking advantage of a rule to rip you off.
 

ollinger

G.O.A.T.
I'd have more confidence in industrially farmed food than food from a family farm, if only because there are so many potential whistle-blowers in an industrial operation, but none in a family operation.
 

Zachol82

Professional
I was never a fan of protein shakes or protein bar or processed protein in general. Why bother with these when you can get protein from pretty much consuming any sort of meat/dairy products?

Even if it's not organic, I still think it's better than these protein powder...you don't even know the process they use or what exactly goes in them. Yes, you can look at the ingredients list, but why in hell would you want to have these 30 or so EXTRA ingredients in your diet that you don't need? Nature didn't design the human body to consume all the BS that goes into processed foods.
 

FedererUberAlles

Professional
I'd have more confidence in industrially farmed food than food from a family farm, if only because there are so many potential whistle-blowers in an industrial operation, but none in a family operation.

Monsanto is responsible for nearly 100 superfund sites. I wouldn't trust any operation related to that (industrial farming)
 

ollinger

G.O.A.T.
My point exactly! With large corporations you eventually will find out what they've been doing , with a family farm you will likely never know.
 

PCXL-Fan

Hall of Fame
It is not part of the standard medical school curriculum to teach about industrial agricultural farming practices. A large portion of north americas crop fields are fertilized with reprocessed and refined sewage taken from large urban centers.

A clever and perhaps brilliant concept on paper, the reality is these refineries were not designed to remove many of the hazardous chemicals being dumped often & regularly today into our urban center sewers. In a publicity effort to prevent public backlash government officials of course say it is safe, but ask many scientists, doctors & toxicologist not employed by the agencies or businesses that approve/employ these fertilizers and you will hear the majority have concerns of eating plants possibly contaminated with hazardous chemicals.
Some of these chemicals such as xeno-estrogens (endocrine distributors) are known to bio-accumulate in the system and take decades to remove.

Organic may be overpriced, and may be non-organic much of the time but the fact remains certified organic food cannot be fertilized with biosolids (processed sewage).
 

Centered

Hall of Fame
My point exactly! With large corporations you eventually will find out what they've been doing , with a family farm you will likely never know.
lol

The notion that small businesses are more secure for conducting fraud than large corporations is quite marvelous. My neighbors, after all, invented stuff much worse than Agent Orange.
 
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