Getting ready to gulp down another muscle-building protein shake? You might want to think before you drink.
An investigative report by Consumer Reports (CR) suggests that long-term use of the drinks may lead to health issues, especially for those who drink three or more servings a day. The magazine reported that all of the 15 drinks it tested contained the heavy metals arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury, which can be toxic if ingested in sufficient quantities.
Most of the products tested showed these contaminants in the low to moderate range. However, CR says three products could expose consumers to excessive levels of some heavy metals if drunk three times daily: ready-to-drink liquid EAS Myoplex Original Rich Dark Chocolate Shake, Muscle Milk Chocolate powder, and Muscle Milk Vanilla Crème.
As we’ve blogged before, dietary supplements such as protein drinks are not generally required to be tested by the federal government to ensure their efficacy and safety before being sold.