In September 2024, Consumer Reports tested for lead in ground cinnamon products and spice blends that contain cinnamon and found that 12 of 36 products measured above 1 part per million of lead—the threshold that triggers a recall in New York, the only state in the U.S. that regulates heavy metals in spices.

In its October 2025 issue, Consumer Reports tested for lead in protein powders and shakes. 

"One of the main reasons people turn to supplements is the belief that their diet falls short on protein—a concern that many experts say is overblown. Americans need much less protein than they think, says Nicholas Burd, PhD, a professor of health and kinesiology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who has studied protein extensively.  “I’m constantly trying to pull protein out of people’s diets"... 

...  studies have found that most people, even vegans, are capable of getting more than enough protein through their diet alone. The latest federal survey of U.S. eating habits found that Americans of all age groups exceed the recommended dietary allowances for protein (PDF), with men clocking in at over 155 percent of the recommendations and women at over 135 percent. But many people still worry they are deficient, Burd says.