Costco faces lawsuit alleging heavy metals in plant-based protein powder

Costco is being sued after being accused of selling protein powders with high levels of toxic metals.

The lawsuit dated July 7 impacts the Orgain Organic Plant-Based Protein Power. 

The lawsuit alleges the packaging contains "misrepresentations and partial misstatements that contradict the presence of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic."

It states: "The product page contains language touting the product’s 'power of clean,' 'quality 'ingredients [and] higher standards,' provides 'good clean fuel,' and that it is 'relentless about quality.' Nowhere does it disclose that the product contains heavy metals, including lead, cadmium, and arsenic."

It also alleges the "defendant knew or, at a minimum, should have known that the contaminated products it sells contained detectable levels of heavy metals" and goes on to say the "defendant also knows consumers will pay more (i.e., a premium) for products that they are led to believe are free from harmful contaminants such as heavy metals."

The lawsuit cites studies from the Clean Label Project and Consumer Reports, which found high levels of heavy metals in many brands of protein powders.

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Plaintiffs are seeking damages and a court order making Costco advise people about what's inside the product.