Costco is facing legal action over allegations that a popular protein powder sold at its warehouses and online contains dangerous levels of lead, arsenic, and cadmium.
A class-action lawsuit filed in federal court by seven consumers from six states claims Costco violated consumer protection laws by failing to warn customers about the alleged presence of these heavy metals in Orgain Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder, specifically in Vanilla Bean and Creamy Chocolate Fudge flavors.
The lawsuit cites laboratory testing, including a 2025 Consumer Reports investigation, which reportedly found Orgain's vanilla protein powder exceeded the publication's 'level of concern' for lead. Independent tests are also mentioned, claiming to have found lead, arsenic, and cadmium in protein powders purchased from Costco, with one sample exceeding California's 'safe harbor' threshold for lead by over 600 percent.
Plaintiffs argue that consumers could not have known about the heavy metal content without explicit disclosure from Costco. They contend that marketing phrases such as 'the power of clean,' 'good, clean nutrition,' and 'quality ingredients,' alongside the USDA Organic seal, misled shoppers into believing the product was free from harmful contaminants. The suit seeks damages for consumers and a court order requiring Costco to disclose heavy metal content and cease selling the products without adequate warnings.
According to the World Health Organization, there is no safe level of exposure to heavy metals like lead. These substances can accumulate in the body over time, and long-term exposure has been linked to serious health issues, including certain cancers, fertility problems, damage to the brain and nervous system, digestive disorders, and weakened immune function.
The lawsuit notes that protein powders exist in a regulatory gray area, as the Food and Drug Administration does not routinely test or approve supplements before they are sold. This places a reliance on retailers' representations of product quality and safety.
"Consumers nationwide trust Costco," lawyer Steve Berman stated. "Based on our investigation and product testing, we believe Costco knew or should have known that its Orgain protein powder failed to live up to its promises of safety and quality."
Orgain Organic Protein Powder remains available for purchase on the brand's website and is still listed as a 'members-only' item on Costco's website. Costco has not issued a recall for the product, and the allegations have not yet been proven in court.