Costco Faces Class Action Over Contaminated Protein Powder Sales

In recent news, Costco has found itself at the center of a class action lawsuit claiming that it sold protein powder contaminated with harmful heavy metals, including lead, cadmium, and arsenic. This lawsuit underscores the critical importance of transparency in food safety and consumer protection, especially in a market where health-conscious consumers heavily rely on supplement products.

Seven plaintiffs have come forward, alleging that Costco failed to disclose the presence of these toxic substances in Orgain Organic Protein Powder. According to their complaint, reasonable consumers cannot ascertain the existence of heavy metals without sophisticated and expensive laboratory tests, which the plaintiffs argue Costco neglected to perform or require.

The issues came to light following a test by Consumer Reports in October 2025, which revealed that Orgain's vanilla bean protein powder exceeded the “level of concern” for lead, with levels measuring at 143% above what is deemed acceptable. This alarming finding led to the assertion that while the product may be