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Recent headlines about heavy metals in protein powders have caused concern, and Huel was one of the brands mentioned. Here’s what the science says about lead levels in Huel, how we test every batch, and why the data shows our products are safe and compliant with FDA and EU standards.
Heavy metals, such as lead and cadmium, are naturally occurring elements found in soil and water. Because plants absorb minerals as they grow, trace amounts end up in virtually all plant-based foods, from oats and nuts to spinach, rice, and beans.
We’re talking about amounts so small that they’re measured in parts per billion, or millionths of a gram. For example, a typical meal of sausage, potatoes, and vegetables can contain around 5 micrograms (µg) of lead, and most adults naturally consume 20–80 µg per day through everyday foods and water. These trace amounts are found everywhere, not just in powders or supplements, but in vegetables, grains, and other foods grown in soil.
So when a lab detects a couple of micrograms in a serving of Huel, that isn’t contamination. It’s simply how food grown in soil behaves.
To put that into perspective, let’s look at where much of the confusion began.
The report in question cites California’s Proposition 65, a state law that sets one of the most conservative thresholds for lead exposure in the world.
To create that limit, regulators took the lowest level ever associated with harm in humans and divided it by 1,000, creating a massive safety buffer. The result is a “safe harbor” level of 0.5 µg per day, about 1,000× lower than the level shown to cause harm.
It’s not a food safety limit. It’s a warning law designed to flag even theoretical exposures, including those that occur naturally in foods like spinach, rice, and nuts.
In contrast, most public health authorities, including the FDA, WHO, EFSA, and NSF International, set limits dozens or hundreds of times higher based on real-world evidence and modern toxicology.
Testing isn’t something we do in response to headlines. It’s something we’ve always done. Each year, we invest over $1 million in testing through accredited, independent laboratories in the UK and US, covering every stage of production.
Over the past few years, Huel Black Edition has undergone 17 separate tests for heavy metals, including lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury. The results have been consistent every time: safe, stable, and compliant with global food safety standards.
In 2025, Huel Black Edition was certified by NSF International, the gold standard for product safety and quality. That certification found no detectable lead above the 3.6 µg testing threshold, confirming that Huel meets some of the most stringent safety criteria in the world.
We continue to test ingredients, batches, and finished products to maintain complete oversight of our supply chain and ensure safety from start to finish.
Metric | Value | Context |
EU/UK Limit | 270 µg per 90g serving | Maximum allowable limit in food products under EU and UK regulations |
NSF Limit | 10 µg per serving | Certification threshold for dietary supplements |
FDA Guideline (US reference value) | 10 µg | US FDA guidance level for lead in foods |
Consumer Reports (CR) Test Result | 6.9 µg | Average lead level found in protein powders tested by Consumer Reports |
Huel NSF Test Result | <3.6 µg/day (non-detectable) | Huel’s independently verified test result; below the NSF detection limit |
Even using Consumer Reports’ own data, Huel remains well within every recognized food safety threshold worldwide.
Independent scientists and evidence-based health communicators have urged caution in how Consumer Reports’ findings are being interpreted.
“No, you don’t need to panic about lead in protein powder — certainly based on their information,” said Dr. Andrea Love, Immunologist and Science Communicator. “The lead levels Consumer Reports published are not above safety guidance for food items, dietary supplements, or daily intake levels.”
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), a leading industry trade association, echoed that sentiment:
“The mere detection of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, or arsenic does not equate to a health hazard. Modern testing methods are extraordinarily sensitive and capable of identifying trace amounts of naturally occurring elements found broadly in soil, water, and plants.”
Dr. Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Natural Products Association (NPA) — another industry representative group — agreed.
“Base public health decisions on data, not drama. If any product exceeds safe limits, fix it. But let’s stop pretending that detecting parts per billion of naturally occurring elements reveals a public health emergency,” he said in an interview with WholeFoods Magazine.
Dr.Idz explains protein powders and heavy metals
We don’t take shortcuts, and we don’t wait for others to tell us what’s important. Testing and transparency have always been part of our DNA.
We’ll keep doing what we’ve always done: testing frequently, sharing our data openly, and improving as science evolves. Your health and trust will always come first.
Yes. Every Huel product is tested by independent, accredited labs in the UK and U.S. for lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury.
Because plants naturally absorb minerals from soil as they grow. These trace elements appear in all foods grown in soil, from oats to spinach.
Lead levels in Huel Black Edition (1.5–2.2 µg per serving) are consistent with what’s found in everyday meals and meet all international safety benchmarks.
Yes. Independent testing confirms that lead and other trace minerals in Huel are far below global safety thresholds, including FDA, NSF, and EU/UK limits. Every batch is tested by accredited labs to ensure full compliance and transparency.
No. Scientific evidence and real-world data show that Huel’s trace mineral levels are safe for daily consumption.
It’s a California state law with an extremely conservative threshold for certain elements. For lead, that limit (0.5 µg/day) is roughly 1,000× lower than levels shown to cause harm.
Yes. We’re committed to transparency and will continue to publish verified results and certifications, including our NSF reports.
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