Posted on 06/15/2010 8:57:58 PM PDT by James C. Bennett
Protein drinks contain poisonous elements, according to a new report.
A monthly review of consumer products and services, the Consumer Reports, has found that three such drinks available in the market had harmful content.
EAS Myoplex Original Dark Chocolate Shake and two versions of Muscle Milk chocolate drinks, the report claims, had high levels of arsenic, cadmium and lead.
The finding challenges senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at the Council for Responsible Nutrition, Andrew Shao’s, claim that protein powders and drinks are a safe option for adolescents and pregnant women.
The Consumers Reports drew attention to the fact that federal regulations don't require compulsory testing of protein drinks and other dietary supplements, before they are sold, for contaminants.
"Most consumers and even many doctors don't realize that in this country we're left to simply trust the manufacturer to decide what level of quality and safety they'll provide," Discover News quoted Pieter Cohen, an internist at Cambridge Health Alliance, as saying.
Cadmium causes kidney and lung damage. Arsenic and lead cause cancer and brain damage.
The timing of this wouldn’t have anything to do with Waxman and the Dems’ attempts to regulate (control) vitamins and supplements, would it?
I heard about this last week and did a fair amount of research on it. FWIW:
CR’s sampling leaves a bit to be desired. Also their warnings were based on 3 servings per day. That’s a lot more than most use - excepting some serious body builders and even for most of them that’s more than they use.
At one serving a day, what I do, max, the levels weren’t over the limit.
It was useful to get some comparison though, and you could make some judgement based on the levels if this was important to you.
EAS is not a good brand in any case.
And it is also used in medicines and is necessary to a properly functioning system.
Sorry but they are going to have to clarify how much of these chemicals are in the shakes. Dosage makes the poison.
Hmm... I was suspecting China-sourced ingredients.
There is probably harmful content in the offices at Consumer Reports. If you test, you often find something.
Protein drinks are foods. There is a presumption of safety. Change that, such that everything we eat has to be tested for levels of x, y,z before it goes on the shelves, and food will become unaffordable. Liberals dont care about that, but the rest of us do.
That would be Sulphur and Lead.
I found once long ago that Consumer Reports did a study on ‘wheat’ breads. They compared brands that all used brown dye. Not one bread had whole grain wheat, just white flour and brown dye.
They found that they were not healthier than white breads. And that was in the eighties!!!!
I have NEVER listened to Consumer Reports since.
Is that where the phrase, “all muscle and no brain” came from?
A long time ago I read a wonderful parody of a Consumer Reports car test. I can't find it on the Internet, but IIRC the parody had CR testing an F1 race car, rating it unacceptable for not having a day/night rear-view mirror and for having exposed hot metal surfaces that could burn a tiny tot's hands. The review also downrated the car for poor accident avoidance ability, because the CR testers had avoided only two of seven possible accidents.
Somehow that parody captured the essence of Consumer Reports.
Back in the early seventies, I made my living working on appliances, including washing machines. I read a Consumer Reports review of washing machines. They had the Sears Kenmore rated substantially higher than the Whirlpool. The Kenmore was a rebadged Whirlpool. No clue what the business is like now, but Sears used to purchase almost all their appliances from other manufacturers and rebadge them, and Consumer Reports generally rated the Sears versions higher than the actual manufacturer’s versions. All the parts were interchangeable, except for the head and timer.
Bull! Three servings isn't even close to the required amount if you are a bodybuilder...Serious or otherwise...
Is this your *only* protein dietary source?
Question for anyone with knowledge: my son will be starting weight lifting with JV Football and I need to know if there are any safe supplements to help him recover from these work outs and build muscle? Any advice from someone who knows is truly, truly appreciated. Just a mom trying to help.
I’ve been using Jillian Michaels’s protein powder on occasion as she’s very particular about the ingredients of everything she eats, promotes or develops. It’s been good to me to so far. But more than anything, I just eat some good protein within the half-hour of working out. (Been fighting with my weight and weak muscles for a long time and it’s all finally turning around.)
At his age he needs to worry less about supps, and more about eating a good diet.
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?s=6ec5e88fff7d7e8d0cb09e4c84d4db59&t=120615291
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.