Californians deserve to know what’s in their protein powder | Opinion

Californians are more health-conscious than ever, reading labels, choosing cleaner products and investing in nutrition to support active lifestyles. Protein powders, shakes and bars have become daily staples for millions, from athletes to busy parents trying to make better choices.

But too often, consumers do not actually know what is in these products.

Independent testing has uncovered the troubling reality that many protein products contain measurable levels of heavy metals like lead, arsenic and cadmium. These contaminants can enter the food supply through soil, water or manufacturing processes, yet they are rarely disclosed in a way that consumers can easily access or understand.

At the same time, protein supplements are not subject to the same premarket oversight as pharmaceuticals. As a result, products can reach store shelves without consistent testing or transparency requirements. This leaves consumers in the dark and responsible companies at a disadvantage.

California Senate Bill 1033, authored by state Sen. Steve Padilla, D-San Diego, offers a straightforward solution. The bill, which has already cleared both the Senate Health and Environmental Quality Committees and now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee, would require manufacturers of protein products sold in California to test for heavy metals and make those results publicly available.

SB 1033 does not ban products or dictate how they are made. It simply ensures that consumers have access to the information they need to make informed choices. This bill is a public health safeguard and a long-overdue market correction.

For years, the Clean Label Project has tested everyday consumer products and raised awareness about contaminants that are invisible to shoppers. The findings in protein powders are part of a broader pattern. When transparency is optional, it is inconsistent.

Some companies have invested in rigorous third-party testing and full public disclosure, publishing results so that customers can see exactly what is in their products. But today, those practices are voluntary — not standard.

That creates an uneven playing field.

Companies that prioritize safety and transparency often face higher costs, while others can cut corners without consequence. Consumers, meanwhile, are left to assume that all products on the shelf meet the same standard, even when they do not.

SB 1033 addresses that imbalance by establishing a clear, consistent standard: If you sell protein products in California, you must test them and disclose the results. That is not overregulation, it is basic accountability.

It would also set an important precedent nationally, encouraging broader industry adoption of testing and disclosure practices.

Some critics argue that requirements like these could increase costs or burden manufacturers. But companies that are already doing the right thing will have little to change. And those that are not should be expected to meet the same basic standard of responsibility.

Given the harm we know these contaminants can have on the body, this law goes beyond adding another requirement for brands, it equips consumers with essential information to safeguard their health.

Consumers should not have to guess whether their daily protein shake is safe, and companies that invest in quality and transparency should not be undercut by those that do not.

Molly Hamilton is executive director of Clean Label Project. Oliver Amdrup-Chamby is CEO of Puori, a supplement brand that publishes third-party contaminant test results for every product batch.

This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Californians deserve to know what’s in their protein powder | Opinion."