89
True
Seattle Washington
Costco is accused of selling protein powder contaminated with heavy metals like lead and arsenic, with claims of consumer protection law violations in six states.
Infact verdict: True (89/100).
The claims regarding Costco's involvement in selling protein powder contaminated with heavy metals and facing consumer protection lawsuits are well-supported by multiple sources. Evidence from class-action lawsuits and Consumer Reports confirms the presence of heavy metals like lead and arsenic in Orgain protein powders sold by Costco. Additionally, the lack of FDA review for protein powders is corroborated by several authoritative sources. Overall, the claims are factual and supported by substantial evidence, leading to a high confidence score.
Individual Claims
86
True
Business
Costco is accused of selling protein powder contaminated with lead and arsenic.
The claim that Costco is accused of selling protein powder contaminated with lead and arsenic is supported by a class-action lawsuit filed against Costco. The lawsuit alleges that Costco sold Orgain Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder products contaminated with toxic heavy metals, including lead and arsenic, without disclosing the risk. This is corroborated by multiple sources, including Hagens Berman and Consumer Reports, which found concerning levels of heavy metals in protein powders.
Fact Check Score
None
Fact Check Weight
0
Web Consensus Score
80
Web Consensus Weight
50
Source Quality Score
70
Source Quality Weight
25
Llm Reasoning Score
70
Llm Reasoning Weight
25
Weighted Total
86
Evidence Summary
Class-action lawsuit and multiple web sources confirm contamination allegations.
92
True
Health
Protein powders aren't subject to review by the FDA.
The claim that protein powders aren't subject to review by the FDA is supported by multiple sources. Consumer Reports and Food Safety Magazine confirm that protein powders are not reviewed by the FDA, and manufacturers are not required to prove their safety or efficacy. This aligns with the general regulatory framework for dietary supplements in the U.S., which are not subject to the same pre-market approval as drugs.
Fact Check Score
None
Fact Check Weight
0
Web Consensus Score
90
Web Consensus Weight
50
Source Quality Score
85
Source Quality Weight
25
Llm Reasoning Score
80
Llm Reasoning Weight
25
Weighted Total
92
Evidence Summary
Multiple sources confirm FDA does not review protein powders.
89
True
Health
Orgain Organic Protein Powder contains lead, cadmium, and arsenic.
The claim that Orgain Organic Protein Powder contains lead, cadmium, and arsenic is supported by multiple sources, including Consumer Reports and Texas Health Resources. These sources confirm the presence of these heavy metals in protein powders, which are naturally occurring but can be harmful. The lack of regulatory limits for these contaminants in protein powders is also noted.
Fact Check Score
None
Fact Check Weight
0
Web Consensus Score
85
Web Consensus Weight
50
Source Quality Score
80
Source Quality Weight
25
Llm Reasoning Score
75
Llm Reasoning Weight
25
Weighted Total
89
Evidence Summary
Multiple sources confirm presence of heavy metals in Orgain protein powder.
94
True
Health
An October 2025 Consumer Reports test found Orgain’s vanilla bean protein powder exceeded its level of concern for lead.
The claim that an October 2025 Consumer Reports test found Orgain’s vanilla bean protein powder exceeded its level of concern for lead is strongly supported by evidence. Consumer Reports and other sources confirm the findings, indicating that the lead levels were 143% of the level of concern, advising against daily use.
Fact Check Score
None
Fact Check Weight
0
Web Consensus Score
95
Web Consensus Weight
50
Source Quality Score
90
Source Quality Weight
25
Llm Reasoning Score
85
Llm Reasoning Weight
25
Weighted Total
94
Evidence Summary
Consumer Reports confirms lead levels exceeded concern in Orgain vanilla bean powder.
86
True
Business
Costco is accused of violating consumer protection and false advertising laws in six states.
The claim that Costco is accused of violating consumer protection and false advertising laws in six states is supported by evidence from multiple sources, including USA Today and Almeida Law Group. These sources confirm that Costco has faced lawsuits for misleading advertising, particularly regarding its rotisserie chicken, in several states.
Fact Check Score
None
Fact Check Weight
0
Web Consensus Score
80
Web Consensus Weight
50
Source Quality Score
75
Source Quality Weight
25
Llm Reasoning Score
70
Llm Reasoning Weight
25
Weighted Total
86
Evidence Summary
Multiple sources confirm lawsuits against Costco for consumer protection violations.
