In Canada, protein powders can be sold either as foods or as Natural Health Products (NHPs); the classification depends on composition/claims/format. Each category is subject to robust safety and quality standards enforced by Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
For NHPs: Health Canada sets specific maximum allowable limits for trace elements such as lead and cadmium. Licensed manufacturers must test for compliance, and products exceeding those limits cannot be released for sale.
For foods: The CFIA has monitoring programs for contaminants, including heavy metals, designed to ensure that products on the Canadian market are safe and meet federal food safety standards.
It’s critical to recognize that heavy metals are naturally occurring in soil, water, and air, and trace amounts can appear in plant-based ingredients and many common foods.
Health Canada’s and CFIA’s frameworks are built on long-term scientific research and real-world dietary exposure data to ensure that Canadian consumers remain within safe limits.
CHFA encourages Canadians to continue purchasing products that comply with Health Canada and CFIA regulations.
We will continue to monitor this issue and provide updates to our members as needed.
