Protein powders may contain high levels of lead and cadmium, with chocolate-flavored and plant-based products testing at the highest levels, a new report said.

Nearly half of some of the most popular protein powders have levels of heavy metals like lead that exceed government food safety regulations, a consumer safety nonprofit said in its report Thursday. Why it matters: No level of lead exposure is safe,

A report by the Clean Label Project released Jan. 9 found that the organic option is often significantly more toxic. The report found that 77% of plant-based protein powders, 79% of organic protein powders and 65% of chocolate-flavored protein powders tested over California Proposition 65 safety thresholds for toxic metals.