State Senate Advances Protein Safety Bill Targeting Heavy Metal Contamination
SACRAMENTO – Today, the Senate Health Committee approved Senate Bill 1033, authored by Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego). The bill aims to protect consumers by requiring testing and disclosure of heavy metals in protein products sold in California.
“Consumers deserve confidence in the safety and integrity of the products they put into their bodies,” said Senator Padilla. “Yet across a rapidly expanding supplement market, oversight has not kept pace with growth, leaving gaps in transparency and accountability. This takes an important step toward restoring trust by setting clearer expectations for safety and giving consumers the information they need to make informed choices.”
As demand for protein powders, drinks, and fortified foods has surged in recent years, these products have become widely available and marketed to consumers of all ages. However, this rapid growth has outpaced regulatory oversight, raising concerns about product safety. An October 2025 investigation by Consumer Reports found that several protein products contained dangerous levels of heavy metals, including arsenic, cadmium, and lead. Some products tested contained between 1,200% and 1,600% above recommended safety thresholds, posing significant health risks, particularly for individuals who consume these products regularly.
SB 1033 would require manufacturers of protein products to test for heavy metals and publicly disclose the results. The bill would also prohibit the sale of products that fail to meet established safety standards, ensuring consumers can make informed decisions and avoid potentially harmful products.
California has previously enacted landmark protections regulating harmful substances in products such as baby food, prenatal vitamins, menstrual products, and cosmetics. SB 1033 continues that commitment by expanding safeguards to the rapidly growing protein supplement market.
SB 1033 is sponsored by the Environmental Working Group, Consumer Reports, and the Center for Environmental Health.
“Once companies are required to show their data, contamination drops – it’s that simple,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, EWG’s senior vice president for California. “Protein powders have flown under the radar for far too long. This bill forces the industry to clean up its act and gives Californians the power to see exactly what they’re being asked to swallow,” she said.
"Protein powders and shakes have become incredibly popular and are part of a daily routine for many people focused on increasing the amount of protein in their diet,” said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports. "Unfortunately, our tests found that some protein powders contain troubling levels of lead and other toxic elements that could put consumers' health at risk. This bill will provide Californians with the information they need to limit their exposure to toxic heavy metals and incentivize companies to make their protein products safer,” said Brian Ronholm, Director of Food Policy at Consumer Reports.
"Many people use protein products daily as part of a healthy diet, but they could be unknowingly ingesting heavy metals that can accumulate and harm our brains and body systems. SB 1033 would equip consumers with crucial information about the heavy metal content of protein products so they can make safer choices for their health,” said Shakoora Azimi-Gaylon, Senior Director, Toxic Exposures and Pollution Prevention, CEH.
To learn more about Senate Bill 1033 and the issue of unregulated protein products, click here.
Senate Bill 1033 passed the Senate Health Committee today with bipartisan support by vote of 10 to 0, and now heads to the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.
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Steve Padilla represents the 18th Senate District, which includes the communities of Chula Vista, the Coachella Valley, Imperial Beach, the Imperial Valley, National City, and San Diego. Prior to his election to the Senate in 2022, Senator Padilla was the first person of color ever elected to city office in Chula Vista, the first Latino Mayor, and the first openly LGBT person to serve or be elected to city office. Website of Senator Steve Padilla: https://sd18.senate.ca.gov/