Comprehensive Lab Testing Report on Just Ingredients Protein Powder

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A Vital Update from Tamara Rubin

As with all protein powders we’ve previously examined, this particular product has also tested positive for toxic elements. Specifically, the lab analysis revealed the presence of Lead, Cadmium, and Arsenic. The detailed laboratory report is provided below, accompanied by a comparative chart illustrating the toxicant levels across all Just Ingredients brand products we’ve tested so far.

It’s crucial to emphasize: All federal health agencies agree that there is no safe level of Lead exposure for humans, especially children. Therefore, even trace amounts are cause for concern.

  • To access our complete collection of lab reports covering various foods, supplements, and cosmetic products we’ve analyzed, please click here.

Full Lab Report Access

The comprehensive lab analysis for this product is available at the end of this article. For consumers seeking safer options, we have curated several lists on our dedicated food and supplement testing page, which you can visit here. We also feature a list of safer snack choices here. Additionally, our latest updated list includes 49 tested foods and supplements that meet stringent safety criteria. Please explore these resources to make informed, health-conscious choices for your family.

If you wish to support our independent, crowd-funded lab testing efforts, please consider contributing via our GoFundMe campaigns. Your support helps us continue providing transparent, science-based safety assessments.

About Tamara Rubin

Tamara Rubin is a recognized advocate dedicated to preventing childhood Lead poisoning and promoting consumer goods safety. As a mother of children affected by Lead poisoning—two of her four sons were acutely poisoned in 2005—her work is driven by a personal and professional commitment to health and safety.

  • She owns and operates Lead Safe Mama, LLC—a community-focused, woman-owned small business dedicated to Lead poisoning prevention and consumer safety.
  • Since July 2022, her efforts have contributed to six product recalls by the FDA and CPSC.
  • All results published here are scientifically verified, accurate, and reproducible.
  • Visit our press page for media coverage of our work.

Transparency and Funding

This is an ad-free article. However, support via affiliate links or donations helps sustain our independent testing and advocacy work. To contribute or shop through our affiliate links, click here. Your support allows us to keep our content free from advertisements and continue our vital mission.

Understanding Action Levels in Toxicant Regulation

What is an Action Level? It is a threshold proposed by the scientific community in 2021, indicating the level at which manufacturers must take corrective action to protect health. Importantly, this is not a maximum safe limit or a recommended daily dose. Instead, exceeding the Action Level signals that a product contains toxicants at levels harmful to human health, especially in children.

  • The absence of a safe level of Lead means even minimal exposure can accumulate over time, posing long-term health risks.
  • Action Levels are designed to be more protective than legal limits like Prop 65, as they do not depend on serving sizes or consumption patterns, which can be misleading.
  • Heavy metals like Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, and Arsenic tend to build up in the body, making even low-level exposures hazardous over a lifetime.
  • Many manufacturers misinterpret guidance, claiming their products are compliant if levels are below legal maximums, ignoring the fact that any detectable or elevated level is unsafe.

Evidence of Achievable Safer Products

Contrary to industry claims, it is entirely feasible to produce processed foods and supplements that contain non-detectable levels of heavy metals. Several tested products listed below have shown no detectable toxicants at the lowest levels of detection, demonstrating that safer manufacturing practices are possible.

Updated List of Safer Products (as of January 26, 2025)

  1. Baby Food — 1: Little Spoon Kale, Carrot + Pear BabyBlends
  2. Baby Food — 2: Little Spoon Butternut Squash + Blueberry BabyBlends
  3. Baby Food — 3: Little Spoon Sweet Potato BabyBlends
  4. Baby Food — 4: Little Spoon Sweet Potato + Carrot BabyBlends
  5. Baby Food — 5: Little Spoon Banana + Pitaya BabyBlends
  6. Beverage — 1: Honest Kids Organic Appley Ever After Apple Juice Drink: Amazon link
  7. Beverage — 2: Olipop Grape Tonic: Amazon link
  8. Breakfast Item — 1: Nature’s Path Envirokidz Organic Panda Puffs: Amazon link
  9. Breakfast Item — 2: One Degree Organic, Gluten-Free, Sprouted Rolled Oats (Canada): Amazon link
  10. Candy — 1: Lindt White Chocolate Bar (Made in USA, NH): Amazon link
  11. Candy — 2: Cavendish & Harvey Wild Berry Drops (Germany): Amazon link
  12. Coffee & Tea — 1: Chameleon Handcrafted Organic Cold Brew Concentrate: Amazon link
  13. Coffee & Tea — 2: Tao of Tea Organic Genmaicha (Portland-based seller): Amazon link
  14. Coffee & Tea — 3: Califia Farms Almond Latte Cold Brew: Amazon link
  15. Coffee & Tea — 4: Death Wish Organic Espresso Roast Ground Coffee: Amazon link
  16. Coffee Creamer — Plant-Based: Laird Superfood Coconut Creamer: Amazon link
  17. Dairy Creamer: Organic Valley Grassmilk Half and Half: Amazon link
  18. Cheese: Babybel Mini Original Snack Cheese: Amazon link
  19. Fruit Snack — 1: GoGo Squeez Organic Apple Sauce Pouch: Amazon link
  20. Fruit Snack — 2: Kirkland Organic Apple Sauce Pouch (Costco): Amazon link
  21. Fruit Snack — 3: Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars (Strawberry Banana): Amazon link
  22. Fruit Snack — 4: Once Upon A Farm Dairy-Free Strawberry Banana Swirl Fruit Smoothie Pouch: Amazon link
  23. Fruit Snack — 5: Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars (Raspberry Lemonade): Amazon link
  24. Infant Formula — 1: Bobbie Organic Gentle Infant Formula (Pink/White Can): Amazon link
  25. Infant Formula — 2: Bobbie Organic Infant Formula (Green/White Can): Amazon link
  26. Infant Formula — 3: Bobbie Grass-Fed Milk-Based Powder (Green Can): Amazon link
  27. Infant Formula — 4: ByHeart Infant Formula (USA-made, non-organic): Amazon link
  28. Infant Formula — 5: HiPP Bio Combiotik Infant Formula, Stage 1: Amazon link
  29. Infant Formula — 6: HiPP HA Stage PRE (0+ Months): Amazon link
  30. Infant Formula — 7: Holle Bio Goat Stage 2 Infant Formula (European, organic): Amazon link
  31. Infant Formula — 8: Kendamil Goat Infant Formula (non-organic): Available at Target
  32. Infant Formula — 9: Kendamil Organic Follow-On Milk (UK, Cow Milk): Available at Target
  33. Infant Formula — 10: Kendamil Whole Milk Infant Formula (European, pink can): Available at Target
  34. Infant Formula — 11: Kendamil Organic Infant Formula (Cow Milk): Available at Target
  35. Ingredient — 1 (Salt): Jacobsen’s Sea Salt (Oregon, USA): Amazon link
  36. Ingredient — 2 (Flour): Jovial Organic Einkorn Flour (Italy): Amazon link
  37. Ingredient — 3 (Seeds): Costco Kirkland Organic Hemp Seeds: Amazon link
  38. Ingredient — 4 (Seeds): Navitas Organic Gluten-Free Chia Seeds (Mexico): Amazon link
  39. Ingredient — 5 (Beans): Jovial Organic Chickpeas (Italy): Amazon link
  40. Oil — 1: Chosen Foods 100% Avocado Oil (not organic): Amazon link
  41. Oil — 2: Dr. Adorable’s Organic Perilla Seed Oil (Korea): Amazon link
  42. Oil — 3: Dr. Bronner’s Regenerative Organic Coconut Oil: Amazon link
  43. Plant-Based Milk — 1: Kiki Milk Organic Plant-Based Milk (original flavor): Amazon link
  44. Plant-Based Milk — 2: West Soy Unflavored Unsweetened Organic Soy Milk: Amazon link
  45. Supplement — 1: Baby Ddrops Organic Vitamin D3 for Babies: Amazon link
  46. Supplement — 2: Doctor’s Best Vitamin C with Q-C: Amazon link
  47. Supplement — 3: Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Fish Oil: Amazon link
  48. Supplement — 4: Mary Ruth’s Organic Toddler Multivitamin Liquid Drops with Iron: Amazon link
  49. Supplement — 5: Pendulum Metabolic Daily Dietary Supplement: Amazon link

For full lab reports of all tested foods and supplements, visit this link. Stay tuned for more updates!

Additional Products with Trace Arsenic Levels

Below are five products that tested positive for trace amounts of Arsenic—levels considered safe by all standards, with detection limits noted in the reports:

  1. Kendamil Goat Toddler Milk (non-organic): Available at Target or other European infant formula suppliers.
  2. That’s It Apple Cherry Bars: Not organic; available online: Amazon link.
  3. Chosen Foods Organic Avocado Oil: Amazon link.
  4. Now Sunflower Lecithin: Not organic; Amazon link.
  5. WishGarden Immune Boost: Available at various online retailers: Amazon link.

Note:

Amazon affiliate links are used for convenience. Purchases made through these links support our ongoing work at no extra cost to you.

Publication Date

Published on February 10, 2025, this comprehensive report aims to inform consumers about potential toxicants in products marketed for children and families. Please scroll down for the full laboratory analysis of the product showcased above. Thank you for prioritizing health and transparency.

Further Considerations

  • There are minimal scientifically-proposed safety thresholds for heavy metals in foods and supplements for adults or the general population in the U.S.
  • Existing proposals for safety thresholds for adult products are not sufficiently protective, given typical consumption patterns, especially considering that children often consume foods not specifically marketed to them.
  • Our focus remains on safeguarding children’s health, advocating for standards that recognize no safe level of Lead exposure.
  • Applying the Baby Food Safety Act of 2021 standards universally would better align with scientific consensus, ensuring all age groups are protected from toxicant exposure.
  • Regrettably, industry lobbyists have opposed formal adoption of these standards, claiming they are unachievable—yet, multiple tested products demonstrate otherwise.
  • Many products tested below the detection limits, illustrating that safer manufacturing practices are entirely feasible.
  • Remember: No level of Lead exposure is safe. This is a fundamental agreement among all health experts and organizations.

Additional Resources

Use this affiliate link to purchase a testing kit similar to ours. For more articles and updates on our independent testing initiatives, visit our website. To view the detailed third-party lab report for the highlighted product, scroll to the bottom of this page. Your support helps us continue our critical work.

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