{"title":"Clean Protein Powder","description":"\u003ch2\u003eWhat does \"clean\" protein powder mean?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere's no legal or regulatory definition of \"clean\" on a food label.\u003csup\u003e\u003ca href=\"#source-1\"\u003e1\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e Brands use it to mean whatever they want, so the word on the front of the bag doesn't tell you much.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe think a clean protein powder comes down to things you can actually check: a short ingredient list you understand, no added sugar, a sweetener you're comfortable with, and independent testing with published results.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to tell if a protein powder is clean\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat to check\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhy it matters\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eOptimal Plant Protein\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIngredient list\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFewer ingredients means less to look up and less to second-guess.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4, all organic\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdded sugar\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSugar adds up fast if you have a shake every day.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e0g sugar\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSweetener\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMany powders use stevia, sucralose or sugar alcohols like erythritol.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrganic monk fruit only\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGums and fillers\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGums, creamers and maltodextrin improve texture but lengthen the list.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNone\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCertifications\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Organic covers how ingredients are grown and handled.\u003csup\u003e\u003ca href=\"#source-5\"\u003e5\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e Certified gluten-free matters if you have celiac disease.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, certified gluten-free\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTesting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLabels don't list heavy metals. Published results tied to a date do.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLight Labs results on the product page\u003csup\u003e\u003ca href=\"#source-2\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBanned substances\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMatters for athletes who get drug tested. Look for NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Sport.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot certified\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOptimal's full ingredient list is organic pea protein, organic brown rice protein, organic vanilla and organic monk fruit. Each serving (36g) has 26g of protein, 150 calories and 0g of sugar.\u003csup\u003e\u003ca href=\"#source-2\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHeavy metals: what the label doesn't show\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2025, Consumer Reports tested 23 protein powders and shakes. Plant-based products had the most lead on average.\u003csup\u003e\u003ca href=\"#source-3\"\u003e3\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e Plants take up metals from the soil they grow in, so no plant protein is completely free of them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat's why we publish our results. Optimal's latest test, by the independent lab Light Labs in September 2026, found per serving:\u003csup\u003e\u003ca href=\"#source-2\"\u003e2\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLead:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.01 mcg\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCadmium:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3.35 mcg\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMercury:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.25 mcg\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArsenic:\u003c\/strong\u003e not detected\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll four were under USP \u0026lt;2232\u0026gt;. USP \u0026lt;2232\u0026gt; is the U.S. Pharmacopeia's standard for heavy metals in dietary supplements. It sets daily limits of 5 mcg of lead, 5 mcg of cadmium, 15 mcg of inorganic arsenic and 15 mcg of mercury. Following it is voluntary, but it's a common benchmark for testing supplements.\u003csup\u003e\u003ca href=\"#source-6\"\u003e6\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e Our lead result is about 20% of the USP limit, and our cadmium result is about two-thirds of it. We retest about every six months and post the newest results.\u003csup\u003e\u003ca href=\"#source-4\"\u003e4\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat \"clean\" can't tell you\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHow much protein you get.\u003c\/strong\u003e Check grams per serving, and whether a serving is one scoop or two.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWhether it's tested.\u003c\/strong\u003e Organic and non-GMO seals cover how ingredients are grown, not heavy metals.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWhether it fits you.\u003c\/strong\u003e Allergies, taste and budget still matter. Compare a few options in our guide to the \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/nutrition\/best-plant-based-protein-powder\"\u003ebest plant-based protein powder\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n","products":[{"product_id":"optimal-organic-plant-protein-powder","title":"Optimal Plant Protein","description":"\u003cp\u003eOptimal Plant Protein is organic plant protein powder made with just four ingredients: organic pea protein, organic brown rice protein, organic vanilla and organic monk fruit. Each 36g serving has 26g of protein, 150 calories and 0g of sugar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e26g of protein per serving from organic pea and brown rice protein\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSweetened only with organic monk fruit, with no stevia, erythritol or added sugar\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo gums, natural flavors, dairy or soy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUSDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified and certified gluten-free\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeavy metal results from the independent lab Light Labs published on the product page\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVanilla flavor, 30 servings per bag\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"fitppl","offers":[{"title":"Vanilla \/ 30 Serving Bag","offer_id":49098912825625,"sku":"OPP-V-30BAG","price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0852\/1757\/5193\/files\/updated-optimal-bag.jpg?v=1788114381"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0852\/1757\/5193\/collections\/Optimal_Glass_c955c76f-5ca9-4f0c-87fe-d0d64707d8e5.jpg?v=1794074081","url":"https:\/\/fitppl.com\/collections\/clean-protein-powder.oembed","provider":"fitppl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}