Uncommon and extremely critical support for.. The Australian Immigration department?

Much has changed since Consumer Reports first tested protein powders and shakes. Over the past 15 years, Americans’ obsession with protein has transformed what had been a niche product into the centerpiece of a multibillion-dollar wellness craze, driving booming supplement sales and spawning a new crop of protein-fortified foods that now saturate supermarket shelves and social media feeds.

Yet for all the industry’s growth and rebranding, one thing hasn’t changed: Protein powders still carry troubling levels of toxic heavy metals, according to a new Consumer Reports investigation. Our latest tests of 23 protein powders and ready-to-drink shakes from popular brands found that heavy metal contamination has become even more common among protein products, raising concerns that the risks are growing right alongside the industry itself.

For more than two-thirds of the products we analyzed, a single serving contained more lead than CR’s food safety experts say is safe to consume in a day—some by more than 10 times.

“It’s concerning that these results are even worse than the last time we tested,” said Tunde Akinleye, the CR food safety researcher who led the testing project. This time, in addition to the average level of lead being higher than what we found 15 years ago, there were also fewer products with undetectable amounts of it. The outliers also packed a heavier punch. Naked Nutrition’s Vegan Mass Gainer powder, the product with the highest lead levels, had nearly twice as much lead per serving as the worst product we analyzed in 2010.

Nearly all the plant-based products CR tested had elevated lead levels, but some were particularly concerning. Two had so much lead that CR’s experts caution against using them at all. A single serving of these protein powders contained between 1,200 and 1,600 percent of CR’s level of concern for lead, which is 0.5 micrograms per day. Two others had between 400 and 600 percent of that level per daily serving. CR experts recommend limiting these to once a week.

The lead levels in plant-based products were, on average, nine times the amount found in those made with dairy proteins like whey, and twice as great as beef-based ones. Dairy-based protein powders and shakes generally had the lowest amounts of lead, but half of the products we tested still had high enough levels of contamination that CR’s experts advise against daily use.

There’s no reason to panic if you’ve been using any of the products we tested, or if you take protein supplements generally. Many of these powders are fine to have occasionally, and even those with the highest lead levels are far below the concentration needed to cause immediate harm. That said, because most people don’t actually need protein supplements—nutrition experts say the average American already gets plenty—it makes sense to ask whether these products are worth the added exposure.

Consumers often assume supplements deliver health benefits without risks, says Pieter Cohen, MD, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. “But that’s not true.”

CR’s experts agree. “For many people, there’s more to lose than you’re gaining,” says Akinleye, who suggests that regular users of protein supplements consider reducing their consumption.

Unlike prescription and over-the-counter drugs, the Food and Drug Administration doesn’t review, approve, or test supplements like protein powders before they are sold. Federal regulations also don’t generally require supplement makers to prove their products are safe, and there are no federal limits for the amount of heavy metals they can contain.

While no amount of lead is technically safe, the greatest danger comes from repeated or continuous exposure, particularly at high doses, says Rose Goldman, MD, an associate professor of medicine and physician at Cambridge Health Alliance in Medford, Mass. Children and pregnant people are most vulnerable because lead can damage the developing brain and nervous system, which has the potential to cause neurological issues, learning delays, and behavioral problems. But chronic lead exposure has also been linked to immune suppression, reproductive problems, kidney damage, and high blood pressure in adults.

Lead lingers in the body, so even small amounts can add up over time and contribute to health risks, Goldman says. And unlike some other foods CR has tested for heavy metals, such as chocolate and bubble tea, protein powder isn’t usually treated as an occasional indulgence. For many people, it’s part of their daily routine. Some products are even marketed as complete meal replacements, with superfans bragging in online forums about surviving on nothing but these powders for weeks or months at a time. Compounding the problem is the exploding popularity of protein-fortified foods, snacks, and beverages, which are designed to supplant conventional foods in American diets but are frequently made with the same problematic ingredients as the supplements.

“The FDA can take action if it finds unsafe lead levels, but the lack of enforceable standards means it doesn’t happen nearly enough,” says Brian Ronholm, CR’s director of food policy. “The FDA’s lack of funding and staff makes the problem worse. Establishing enforceable limits in foods and supplements would go a long way in protecting consumers.” What CR’s Tests Found

For our tests, CR selected a range of bestselling dairy, beef, and plant-based protein supplements, including protein powders and ready-to-drink protein shakes.

We purchased multiple samples of each product, including two to four distinct lots, over a three-month period beginning last November. CR bought the products anonymously from a variety of sources, including popular online retailers like Amazon and Walmart, and at supermarkets and health food stores in New York state, such as the Vitamin Shoppe and Whole Foods Market. Then CR tested samples from multiple lots of each product for total protein, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and other elements. Because the results are based on an average of these samples, which were collected over a specific period of time, they may not mirror current contaminant levels in every product. Even so, the findings highlight why consumers should carefully consider the role of protein powders and shakes in their diet. For more details on our testing methods and results, see our methodology sheet (PDF).

All products met or exceeded their label claim of protein in our tests, offering between 20 to 60 grams of protein per serving. Lead was the main heavy metal that emerged as an issue. About 70 percent of products we tested contained over 120 percent of CR’s level of concern for lead, which is 0.5 micrograms per day. Three products also exceeded our level of concern for cadmium and inorganic arsenic, toxic heavy metals that have been classified as a probable human carcinogen and known human carcinogen, respectively, by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Two plant-based protein powders contained enough lead that our experts advise against consuming them. Naked Nutrition’s Mass Gainer powder contained 7.7 micrograms of lead per serving, which is roughly 1,570 percent of CR’s level of concern for the heavy metal. One serving of Huel’s Black Edition powder contained 6.3 micrograms of lead, or about 1,290 percent of CR’s daily lead limit.

Two other powders contained lead between 400 and 600 percent of CR’s level of concern: Garden of Life’s Sport Organic Plant-Based Protein and Momentous’ 100% Plant Protein. Consumers should limit these to once a week, Akinleye says. (See company responses below.)

The only non-plant-based protein powder with lead detected at over 200 percent of CR’s level of concern was MuscleMeds’ Carnivor Mass powder. Six additional plant-based powders, five dairy-based powders and shakes, and one beef powder contained lead above CR’s level of concern.

We also found measurable levels of cadmium and inorganic arsenic in some products. One serving of Huel’s Black Edition plant-based protein powder contained 9.2 micrograms of cadmium, more than double the level that public health authorities and CR’s experts say may be harmful to have daily, which is 4.1 micrograms.

Another plant-based option, Vega’s Premium Sport powder, had enough cadmium that one serving would also put you just over that level. In one dairy-based product, Optimum Nutrition’s Serious Mass whey protein powder, we also detected 8.5 micrograms per serving of inorganic arsenic, which is twice the limit of what our scientists say is safe to consume daily.

Prior to publication, CR contacted the manufacturers of all 23 products we tested and shared with them our results and methodology. Seven companies did not respond to our requests for comment: BSN, Dymatize, Jocko Fuel, Muscle Milk, Owyn, PlantFusion, and Transparent Labs. Optimum Nutrition declined to comment, and Huel did not respond to questions about the amount of cadmium found in its product.

Of those that responded, many say that lead is a naturally occurring element that is difficult to avoid, particularly in plant-based products. Eight companies—Equip Foods, Garden of Life, KOS, Momentous, Muscle Meds, Muscle Tech, Orgain, and Vega—say they test both their ingredients and finished products for heavy metals.

A spokesperson for Huel says that its ingredients undergo “rigorous testing” and that the company is “confident in the current formulation and safety of the products.” Naked Nutrition sources its ingredients from “select suppliers” that provide documentation attesting that they were checked for heavy metals, says James Clark, chief marketing officer. “We take our customers’ health very seriously,” he says, noting that Naked Nutrition has requested a third-party test of its Mass Gainer powder in response to CR’s findings.

John Koval, a spokesperson for Abbott, which makes Ensure, says that the lead levels CR found in its shakes are low for a product made with plant protein and that “consumers can be assured the product is safe.” A spokesperson for Quest says that the levels of lead CR detected in its products are “evidence that our robust food safety programs are working effectively.”

Spokesperson Allie Droze says that Vega “complies with all required safety standards and regulations” and that CR’s cadmium findings are “inconsistent” with the company’s regular testing results. She adds that the firm operates under California Proposition 65 consent decrees—legally binding settlement agreements that may allow companies to adhere to higher thresholds.

Such agreements are typically signed to resolve claims that a company violated a California law requiring that businesses warn consumers before exposing them to certain harmful chemicals. In total, Vega has paid about $336,000 in penalties to resolve allegations made in 2013 and 2018 that its products contained high levels of lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals without appropriate warning. As part of the settlements, Vega admitted no wrongdoing.

Earlier this year, Vega renamed the plant-based protein powder we analyzed and changed its sourcing practices for a key ingredient. The company now sources its pea protein—which is the first listed ingredient in the rebranded Vega Protein + Recovery—from North America instead of China. “Because naturally occurring heavy metal levels in plant proteins can reflect the soil in which crops are grown, this sourcing change is relevant to any testing considerations,” Droze says.

Momentous also recently conducted a “massive overhaul” of its products to improve sourcing and “clean up formulas” for its dairy and plant-based protein powders, says spokesperson Will McClaran. “The Momentous products [CR] tested have been discontinued and are no longer commercially available,” McClaran says. (Discontinued products are marked with a footnote in the chart above. We included them in our results because protein supplements have a long shelf life and consumers may still have them in their pantries.)

Spokespeople for Garden of Life US and Orgain say their products are safe for daily use despite CR’s recommended limits. They also specified that the companies’ limits for heavy metals are determined by closely following the latest food safety guidance from the FDA, EPA, World Health Organization, and European Food Safety Authority.

Most of those organizations do not have limits or guidelines for heavy metals in protein powders or dietary supplements, particularly with regard to lead. The EPA does not regulate lead levels in food but has set an action level of 10 parts per billion for lead in tap water. (The concentration of lead we found in the Garden of Life and Orgain products was 61 and 15 ppb, respectively.) The FDA has not set any action levels for lead in protein powders or shakes. The WHO has published no guidance on lead in supplements and, through its joint committee with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, has said there is no level of lead that is safe to consume weekly. The maximum amount of lead permitted in food supplements according to the EFSA is 3,000 ppb (3 mg/kg), a level that CR’s food safety experts say is far too high to be health protective.

Momentous and Vega say their products are independently tested to ensure they meet standards set by the National Science Foundation, an independent federal agency. To obtain certification by the NSF, dietary supplements must adhere to the group’s limits of 10 micrograms per day for lead and inorganic arsenic, and 4.1 micrograms per day for cadmium.

Muscle Meds says it tests its products to ensure compliance with a similar lead limit, 10 micrograms per serving. Naked Nutrition says it is “in the process of obtaining” NSF certification.

We also shared our results with the FDA and asked about its oversight of the protein supplement industry. A spokesperson says the agency monitors contaminants in protein powders and shakes through its toxic element compliance program, special FDA surveys, and through a cooperative agreement with the states for laboratory funding.

“We will review the findings from Consumer Reports’ testing along with other data we have collected to better inform where to focus our testing efforts and enforcement activities,” the FDA spokesperson says.

random China stray aside, you may be drinking lead. I'm not copying the rest of the article because it's long and will exceed the post limits but I'd recommend it for the actual study results and the rest of the corporate "noo what are you talking about haha, we don't have any lead or arsenic in our drinks and ultimately the consumer will just need to decide if they want to bulk or if they want to stay arsenic free" bullshit

Snip:

An investigation by The Grayzone has revealed that Iran’s June 13 missile strike on Tel Aviv directly hit a secret underground military command center jointly operated by Israel and the United States, buried beneath a luxury apartment complex in the heart of the city.

According to geolocation analysis, leaked emails, and public records, the bunker, known as “Site 81”, is located underneath the Da Vinci Towers, a high-end residential and office complex built over what was once a ministry compound.

The facility reportedly serves as a command and control node for Israeli military intelligence, with US Army engineers having overseen its construction over a decade ago.

When Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across north Tel Aviv in June, Israeli authorities immediately sealed off the impact zone and prevented journalists from filming.

https://xcancel.com/StateDept/status/1978218112882266594#m

https://apnews.com/article/trump-charlie-kirk-visas-revoked-455f43467c0c50e84d3857c1e9c81458

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-revokes-visas-six-foreigners-over-comments-made-about-charlie-kirks-death-2025-10-14/

Snip:

"As part of the strategic redistribution of resources, the decision has been made to close the embassies in the Kingdom of Norway and Australia," the government said in a statement, published by Foreign Minister Yvan Gil on Monday.

The goal of the restructuring of Venezuela's foreign service is to optimize state resources and redefine the diplomatic presence "to strengthen alliances with the Global South, promote solidarity among peoples, and cooperate in strategic areas for mutual development," the statement read.

Simultaneously, the Venezuelan government announced its decision to open new embassies in Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso, the statement said, adding that the missions will serve as platforms for cooperation in agriculture, energy, education, mining, and other areas.

Freelance interpreters say that the Norwegian government is breaking its own promises about fair working conditions. "We have a right to live like everyone else," says a user of interpretation services.

Written by Maja Mathisen. Photos by Frode Fjerdingstad and Maja Mathisen. Published October 9, 2025, at 5:13 AM.

Bibbi Hagerupsen is Deaf and has low vision. She relies on interpreters to participate in social activities outside of work. She has used interpretation services for 35 years.

"I am a hostage of the NAV^[NAV refers to the Norwegian Labor and Welfare Administration.] system. Please, dear politicians! The system must be changed. Freelance interpreters need good wages and working conditions. I need to be able to request interpreters without worrying about whether I'll actually get one."

These are the words of 55-year-old Bibbi Hagerupsen in a Facebook post.

Most people can eat dinner with friends or take a hike in the woods without issue, but Hagerupsen, who is Deaf and has low vision, needs an interpreter in order to participate in these sorts of activities. Unfortunately for her, however, freelance interpreters don't desire these sorts of short-duration assignments, due to low pay.^[Footnote from article with own notes: Freelance interpreters have some of the lowest honorarsats in all of Norway, based on pay grade 29. Pay grades refer to the tables of remuneration negotiated by the parties in the workplace [i.e. employer and union]. Pay grade 29 has a gross annual pay of 390,100 NOK (~38,397 USD). Honorarsats refers to pay rates for a generally individual or temporary assignment performed by someone who is not employed by the one paying, and can therefore not receive a proper wage or salary. Honorar is commonly translated as "fee".] This situation has led freelance interpreters and users of their services to now accuse the Norwegian government of social dumping.^[Footnote from article: Social dumping refers to workers who experience worse pay and working conditions than normal for their line of work. Source: Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees.]

This accusation comes after the Ministry of Labor and Social Inclusion published an action plan against social dumping and work-related criminality this summer. The ministry's plan was created after NRK published an article in which the Norwegian police stated that they believed that organized criminals from Romania have taken over food delivery services in Oslo.

Feels overlooked

Helge Edland leads the organization Interpreters in the Norwegian Union of University and College Graduates (Tolker i Akademikerforbundet, abbrev. TiA), and is a freelance interpreter for NAV. He lives in Stavanger^[Stavanger is one of Norway's largest cities, with a municipal population of 150,123 (4th) and a metropolitan population of 364,308 (3rd) as of 2025. Stavanger was founded in 1125 AD on the Stavanger peninsula in the middle of Rogaland county in Norway's southwest; the peninsula is surrounded by fjords. Stavanger is home to the headquarters of the NATO Joint Warfare Center as well as Equinor, a state-owned petroleum company desperately trying to reform its image. Equinor is the largest company in the Nordic region and Stavanger is called the Oil Capital of Norway.] but travels to a wide variety of locations across Norway for interpretation assignments. He says that the government's action plan was created based on media coverage and overlooks knowledge workers like himself.

Helge Edland has taken freelance assignments from NAV for more than 20 years as a speech-to-text interpreter for the d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing.

—"NAV's interpretation service is doing in practice exactly what the department is trying to fight against. The department has nice words and intentions, but as long as they continue to undermine us and our opportunities to have quality pay and good working conditions, I will continue to have little faith that we the members of TiA will see our situation improve," Edland says, referring to NAV's proposal to put much of the interpretation service out to tender.^[Footnote from article: The proposal is for three quarters of the hours of the interpretation service to be performed by private actors. Source: Norwegian Union of University and College Graduates.] [NAV] presented this proposal as a solution to interpreters' dissatisfaction regarding pay and working conditions.

Hagerupsen agrees with Edland.

—"I have to place my order for an interpreter through NAV's interpretation service well ahead of time in order to keep my hopes up that I will be able to participate in social activities in the sign language community. So I feel trapped in the NAV system, where I don't get to use my right to independence and freedom without worrying about whether or not I'll get an interpreter for the things I want to do. So NAV are themselves doing social dumping," she says.

Hagerupsen needs an interpreter to go to a café; the interpreter doubles as a sighted guide.

Hagerupsen commutes to work from Drammen^[Drammen is the administrative center of Buskerud county. It is the seventh most populous municipality in Norway with 105,800 people as of 2025, and it is located along the Oslo Fjord, southwest of Oslo proper in eastern Norway. Drammen and Oslo are roughly half an hour apart by train; Drammen is on the fringes of Greater Oslo.] to Oslo every day. In her free time she wants to engage in physical activities like swimming or hiking, but she ends up having to stay home because she can't get access to an interpreter.

—"Have to prioritize the assignments"

Deaf, d/Deafblind and hard-of-hearing people's right to an interpreter is guaranteed by § 10-7 of the National Insurance Act (Folketrygdloven), which covers interpretation during interactions with healthcare professionals, in the workplace, in education and in everyday life.

NAV's acting director Tormod Moland says that interpretation in daily life has a lower priority, but that they always try to find an interpreter for every assignment.

—"We have to prioritize the assignments we get: healthcare gets the highest priority, after that important events such as funerals, as well as interpretation for work and education."

NAV employs some 250 interpreters at present, and in 2024 ~69% of interpretation hours were covered by a total of 360 freelance interpreters, according to NAV's director of welfare Nina Tangnæs Grønvold. The Norwegian Association of the Deaf estimates that there are roughly 16,500 users of Norwegian Sign Language.

—"I would absolutely be more isolated without freelance interpreters," Hagerupsen says.

Bibbi Hagerupsen with her interpreter, Monica Glåmen.

—"Applies throughout all workplaces"

NRK has asked Tonje Brenna, who was the Minister of Labor when the action plan was published, about the criticism. The department has answered through state secretary Ingrid Marie Vaag Endrerud.

—"Does the action plan show consideration for freelance interpreters, and if so, how?"

—"We work hard to create safe and quality workplaces for all people. The government's action plan against social dumping and work-related criminality applies throughout all workplaces, including state organs," Endrerud says.

Endrerud says that a new remuneration system^[NO: Honorarmodell; see footnote 2 for an explanation of honorar, and modell is obviously just the word "model".] for freelance interpreters will be implemented come 2026.

—"The new system involves raising the pay rates somewhat, and also paying interpreters for meeting up for an assignment as opposed to only paying for length of time. This will make shorter assignments more lucrative for freelancers and accordingly increase access to sign language interpreters at night."

NRK has asked for more information about the new remuneration system, but has not received an answer yet. NRK also contacted representatives in the Progress and Conservative parties for comment; they told NRK to contact other people in the parties, but those people have not responded, either.

https://xcancel.com/DropSiteNews/status/1978174441684095343#m

https://xcancel.com/ryangrim/status/1977544137600545089#m

https://archive.ph/enwf6

Nick Blanchard, who led the protest,

nominative determinism strikes again

https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/10/13/anti-trans-activists-strip-off-at-a-school-board-meeting-but-their-protest-is-a-flop/

He's ranting right now about California having no water. Thank you for the kind words at this trying time Mr. President.

A man who works for the people overseeing America’s nuclear stockpile has lost his security clearance after he uploaded 187,000 pornographic images to a Department of Energy (DOE) network.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-14/imf-warns-of-dim-outlook-for-world-economy-hit-by-rolling-shocks (https://archive.ph/ftLGD)

Link to the article here

Tl;dr China is huge on Vietnamese social media right now and soft power is majorly warming relations between the two countries. Chinese troops marched in the Vietnamese 80th Independence Anniversary in September and sang patriotic songs in Vietnamese, which the crowd obviously loved and blew up on social media. This has opened the door to deeper and more popular economic cooperation between Vietnam and China.

Tankietube link to the video: Chinese Troops Sing “Like Uncle Ho” In Vietnam’s 80th Independence Day Parade