Seven people filed the lawsuit against Costco over the sale of Orgain Organic protein powder on Tuesday, July 7

A group of people has filed a class action lawsuit against Costco, alleging that a protein powder brand sold in its stores contains several dangerous heavy metals, including lead.

The lawsuit, filed by a group of seven people in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle on Tuesday, July 7, alleges Orgain Organic Protein Powder products are the source of the alleged heavy metal contamination.

In the lawsuit obtained by PEOPLE, the plaintiffs claim that Costco violated the Washington Consumer Protection Act. It further alleges that the product’s claims to be made with “quality ingredients and higher standards”, and to provide “good clean fuel” are “not true” and “misleading” to consumers.

“Heavy metals are known to pose significant and adverse health risks and consequences to humans,” the lawsuit claims. “It is well-recognized that there are no safe levels of human exposure to any of the heavy metals, including cadmium and lead.”

The plaintiffs are demanding a jury trial, and are seeking “benefit-of-the-bargain damages, restitution and/or diminution of value” in an amount pending the outcome of the trial, per the lawsuit.

Among the specific products named in the lawsuit are Orgain Organic Protein Powder in the vanilla bean and the creamy chocolate fudge flavors.

Orgain maintained that its products are safe in a statement shared with The Seattle Times.

“While trace amounts of substances that occur in the environment can be present in plant-based ingredients, our products comply with applicable food safety standards and guidance,” the statement read. “We stand behind the safety and quality of our products.”

The lawsuit cites independent research conducted by the Clean Label Project and Consumer Reports in 2025. In Consumer Reports’ study, in which 23 products were tested, Orgain was listed among the products containing lead at 143% of its “level of concern” per serving.

The Clean Label Project tested 165 of the top-selling protein powders, and found that many “had an array of positive results for levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury.”

Symptoms of lead poisoning in adults include high blood pressure, joint and muscle pain, difficulties with memory or concentration, headache, abdominal pain, mood disorders, reduced sperm count and abnormal sperm, miscarriage, and stillbirth or premature birth, per Mayo Clinic.

As of publication, the FDA has not issued a recall of Orgain protein powder products.

“Many consumers who buy and use protein powder do so routinely as part of a continuing focus on their fitness and health,” said Steve Berman, managing partner and co-founder of Hagens Berman, the law firm representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. “These same health-conscious consumers have unknowingly ingested alarming levels of toxic heavy metals – lead, cadmium and arsenic – again and again, trusting that Costco’s quality assurance would not allow something like this to happen.”

“Consumers nationwide trust Costco,” Berman added. “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.”

PEOPLE has reached out to a spokesperson for Costco and a spokesperson for Orgain.

Source: https://people.com/class-action-lawsuit-alleges-protein-powder-sold-at-costco-contains-dangerous-levels-of-lead-12016546