Why Independent Testing Matters in Protein Powders — And Exactly How We Do It

Written by Bethany Cameron @lilsipper
4 minutes
Why Independent Testing Matters in Protein Powders — And Exactly How We Do It

The problem most shoppers don’t see

Protein powder should be simple: clean protein, no junk, easy on your stomach. In reality, protein is a concentrated food— if raw materials or processing aren’t tightly controlled, you can concentrate the wrong things too (like heavy metals or allergens). That’s why independent testing is non-negotiable for us.


What can go wrong (and how)

Where risks creep in:

  • Soil & water: Plants naturally absorb whatever’s in their environment — including trace heavy metals.
  • Processing: Equipment, water quality, and handling can introduce issues if not audited.
  • Complex formulas: More flavors, sweeteners, and gums can mean more variables to control.

What good brands should do:

  • Specify tight input limits and reject non-conforming lots.
  • Make products in audited facilities with allergen & hygiene controls.
  • Test finished product for heavy metals, microbes, and allergens — and publish the results.


Our standard (in plain English)

We built Bethany’s Pantry for people with sensitive digestion. That means our baseline has to be higher:

  1. Independently verified ingredients


    Our protein products are Non-GMO Project Verified (renewed annually). This program requires documented supply-chain controls and third-party technical review.

  2. BRCGS AA-grade manufacturing


    Our US partners hold BRCGS Global Food Safety certification at AA grade (the top rating for announced audits). Translation: global-standard controls for hygiene, traceability, and contaminant prevention.

  3. Batch-level, third-party lab testing


    Every batch is tested for:
  • Heavy metals: lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury
  • Microbiology: Salmonella, E. coli, Staph aureus, yeast & mold
  • Allergens & gluten: verified to strict thresholds

And because transparency matters, we publish Certificates of Analysis (CoAs) so you can see the numbers for the exact product you’re using.

Want the report tied to your pouch? Email support with your lot code and we’ll send the exact CoA PDF for that batch.


How our process reduces risk

  • Single-source European golden peas with farm-level documentation.
  • Water-based isolation (no solvent extraction).
  • Short labels: no gums, no artificial flavors or sweeteners. We use real cacao, genuine vanilla, and fruit powders.
  • Tight internal specs + reject lots that don’t meet them.
  • Verify, then publish — every time.


A quick note on recent headlines

You may have seen recent media reports showing that many protein powders on the market contain lead above a conservative daily “level of concern.” We weren’t part of those tests, but we agree with the spirit: prove cleanliness with data.
That’s why our approach has always been: independent testing + public CoAs, so you don’t have to guess.


How to read a CoA (60-second guide)

  • Look for the lot number on your pouch — it should match the CoA.
  • Heavy metals: confirm results are within strict limits (lower is better).
  • Microbiology: Not Detected for pathogens; low counts for yeast/mold.
  • Allergens & gluten: verify “Conforms” or values below declared thresholds.
  • Dates & lab: check the report date and that it’s from an independent lab.

For the researchers among you (our receipts)

(These documents are linked on our Product Testing page or available on request.)


Ready to go deeper?