Costco Sued Over Protein Powder That Allegedly Contains Toxins
Seven Costco customers have filed a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging that Orgain Organic Protein Powder — sold in vanilla bean and creamy chocolate fudge flavors — contains toxic heavy metals including lead, cadmium, and arsenic, despite being marketed as a product with "quality ingredients and higher standards."
The lawsuit, filed July 7 in federal court in Washington state, argues that the presence of those metals directly contradicts what the powder is advertised to do. "Arsenic, cadmium, and lead provide no such benefits and, instead, pose health risks," the complaint reads.
One Texas plaintiff had independent lab testing done that confirmed heavy metals were present in both flavors. The lawsuit also cites a January 2025 Clean Label Project news release identifying toxins in Orgain and other brands, as well as an October 2025 Consumer Reports investigation that found lead in the powder.
Orgain pushed back in a statement, saying its products "comply with applicable food safety standards and guidance" and that "trace amounts of substances that occur in the environment can be present in plant-based ingredients." The company maintained its products are safe to consume.
Costco did not immediately respond to requests for comment. As of July 9, the retailer still had at least four Orgain protein powders listed on its website.
What Heavy Metals Actually Do to the Body
The lawsuit's health claims aren't exaggerated for legal effect — the documented effects of heavy metal exposure are well established in medical literature and genuinely serious.
Lead, cadmium, and arsenic are all classified as Group 1 carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, meaning there is sufficient evidence they cause cancer in humans. But cancer is only one end of the risk spectrum.
Cadmium accumulates primarily in the kidneys, where it causes progressive damage over years of exposure — often without noticeable symptoms until significant function is lost. Long-term cadmium exposure is directly linked to kidney disease, bone loss, and lung damage. Lead affects virtually every system in the body, with particular damage to the brain and nervous system, kidneys, and cardiovascular system. In adults, chronic low-level lead exposure is associated with high blood pressure, cognitive decline, and reproductive problems. Arsenic exposure is linked to multiple cancers including bladder, lung, and skin cancer, as well as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
What makes heavy metals particularly insidious in a dietary supplement context is bioaccumulation — the body doesn't efficiently eliminate these metals, so small amounts consumed regularly over months or years build up in organs and tissues. Someone using protein powder daily as part a fitness routine is consuming these compounds in repeated doses, not just occasionally, which is exactly the exposure pattern that leads to health consequences down the line.
This Is a Broader Industry Problem
The Orgain lawsuit isn't an isolated case — it's one entry point into a significantly larger problem with plant-based protein powders specifically.
Consumer Reports' study, which is central to this lawsuit, tested 23 protein powder products and found that lead levels in plant-based powders averaged nine times higher than those in dairy-based proteins like whey. Lead levels were twice as high as beef-based products. The Clean Label Project's larger study tested 160 protein powder products and found that 47% exceeded California's limits for toxic heavy metals in a single serving — limits that are already among the strictest in the country.
Why plant-based specifically? The plants used to make protein powder — pea, rice, hemp, and others — absorb heavy metals from the soil as they grow. Industrial farming practices, proximity to contaminated land, and the concentration process used to extract protein from plants can all increase the final metal content of the finished powder. Dairy and animal-based proteins go through biological filtration as they pass through an animal's system, which reduces heavy metal content in ways that plant extraction doesn't replicate.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an industry-wide investigation into protein powder manufacturers in June 2026 citing exactly these findings. "Texans deserve clean protein powders without having to worry whether the products contain heavy metals," Paxton said.
What Plaintiffs Want
Beyond monetary damages, the lawsuit is asking the court to require Costco to disclose heavy metal content on the product's packaging or advertising if it continues selling the powder. That disclosure requirement — if granted — would be a meaningful change for consumers who currently have no way of knowing from the label what independent testing has found.
For anyone currently using plant-based protein powder daily, this lawsuit is a reasonable prompt to look at independent testing databases like the Clean Label Project's website before continuing, and to consider whether rotating in dairy or animal-based protein options might reduce exposure risk while the industry works through its heavy metal problem.
Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.