Heavy metals in supplements have become a growing topic of conversation, especially when it comes to plant-based products like protein powders and fiber blends. If you’ve seen warnings, headlines, or Prop. 65 labels, it’s reasonable to wonder: What does this actually mean for the products we take every day?
Understanding heavy metals comes down to a few key questions:
What are they? How much exposure is considered safe? How do my favorite brands ensure their products are safe?
Let’s dig in.
What are heavy metals?
Heavy metals are naturally-occurring, high-density elements that are toxic to humans even at relatively low concentrations. Common heavy metals include lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury.
The key descriptor here is "naturally-occurring." Trace metals aren't industrial additives. They're found in the earth's crust, and by extension our soil—which means that as plants grow, they accumulate heavy metals in trace amounts. Even the fruits and vegetables we buy at the grocery store contain tiny levels of heavy metals. And it's why there's been a lot of chatter lately about heavy metals found in plant-based protein powders and fiber blends.
What heavy metal levels are considered safe?
The aim is to get as close to zero as possible, as there is no known safe level of lead exposure. But different safety organizations and governing bodies offer different thresholds to consider. For lead, for example:
- The FDA advises a daily exposure limit of 2.2 micrograms ( µg) for children, and 8.8µg for women of childbearing age.
- The WHO recommends action when blood lead levels are 5µg or higher.
- The EFSA establishes a blood level reference value of 12µg of lead per liter.
- California's Proposition 65 requires warnings on products exposing people to .5 µg of lead per day—one of the strictest global standards.
What does this mean for my prebiotic fiber?
It's not uncommon for prebiotic fibers or plant-based protein fibers to contain Prop. 65 warnings, due to the natural accumulation of heavy metals in their ingredients. But we prefer to take no chances at LOAM. That's why we're proud that LOAM has tested at the following heavy metal levels:
- Lead: LOAM has tested at .08µg of lead per serving. (That's less than you'd find naturally in one tomato.)
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Arsenic: LOAM has tested at 0.08µg of arsenic per serving. (That's lower than the typical amount found in one baked potato.)
- Mercury: LOAM has tested at .04µg of mercury per serving. (For reference, a single serving of fish typically contains 10,000-100,000 times more than this.)
- Cadmium. LOAM has tested at .02µg for cadmium per serving. (That's less than a raw carrot.)
You wouldn't look at a tomato and assume that it's unsafe. But it's still valid to consider your overall exposure to elements like metals—and perhaps more importantly, to understand how the brands and products you use every day prioritize your safety.
We're happy to obsess over these details so you don't have to.
