Why Is There a Disclaimer About Lead on Your Protein Powder?

Like many natural foods, Roots Protein Powder contains trace amounts of naturally occurring elements, including lead, that exist in soil, water, and the environment. These elements can naturally make their way into food through real ingredients like cocoa, maple sugar, unrefined salt, and grass-fed dairy. The disclaimer printed on the pouch explains this reality and is intended to be transparent about what can naturally occur in whole-food ingredients.

You may also notice that the pouch states the product is not intended for sale or distribution in California. That’s because California has its own labeling law, called Proposition 65, which requires a warning if a product contains certain elements, including lead, above a daily exposure threshold of 0.5 micrograms per day, which is far below levels most regulatory agencies consider harmful.

We test our protein powder for heavy metals. Based on our testing, all measured lead levels per serving fall below California’s Prop 65 daily limit. Results are consistent with what’s commonly found in foods made with real ingredients, and cocoa-based products naturally test slightly higher across the entire protein powder category.

Because heavy metal testing is measured in parts per million, very small variations can occur between tests, even with the exact same product. In some cases, those normal variations can trigger Proposition 65 labeling requirements, even when levels remain well below established safety thresholds.

If you purchase our protein powder in California, you’ll see a Proposition 65 warning sticker placed on the package to meet state requirements. You can learn more about Proposition 65 here.