# Costco accused in lawsuit of selling protein powder ‘tainted’ with toxic heavy metals

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-09 16:07 UTC · Category: Business

## Executive Summary
Costco faces a new class action lawsuit alleging that Orgain protein supplements contain undisclosed toxic heavy metals.

## Intelligence Brief
A class action lawsuit has been filed against Costco regarding the sale of Orgain protein supplements. The complaint alleges that these products contain toxic heavy metals and that the retailer failed to provide adequate warnings to consumers regarding the presence of these substances.


Coverage from The Guardian, the Detroit Free Press, and Hagens Berman notes that the litigation centers on the safety and labeling of the supplements. Reports from 13newsnow.com and The News International emphasize that the legal action is being pursued as a class action on behalf of consumers.


Future developments will depend on court proceedings and any formal responses from Costco or the manufacturer of the supplements. Coverage does not yet specify a timeline for the litigation or any potential regulatory response.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Fox Business | Costco hit with lawsuit alleging protein powder sold in stores contains 'dangerous' levels of lead, arsenic | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixwFBVV95cUxOOHFvcG5BajI5RWozN25fUy1zUFFFTm9sek9yNXd4RllOZEd5dFp6SE10OUhTZGlfbWNPWDZmT2NrVTJFX2ltMDJ1MExCZVFnaEVTQUdIWGRoeVRQRGFLMm1YSjl3WDk5Tl9aUjhUSE9xSURJTlVtMFRSdFYyeF82eFdoMVZvRkFfd09QNkpQZUJ0Q1ZoTWRIcGFhQ2E3S0VpdzdOR08tbDBPTTE1Z1VKYjc2dUtxSE16bFZtVFVwaVFnclFuSTNJ0gHMAUFVX3lxTE9JVVdPRzAyNER2X3pTMjdHV0NVSllqdzZOalZ2MktlM1RZVUlINDBGMjFHbTVvUFNiSHplSUJBR1M0VHM5a2tHS3Jodk9YcVNIUWlUVFpSNGlFazZ4LTNlYUtwenlDZjE1ZnREV2pSeXN4YkJOVmpWVVZ6ZzJ5WHE4TFh3Vy1yRWZnNUd) |
| USA Today | Costco sued over protein powder allegedly containing toxic heavy metals | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqAFBVV95cUxNNFE1c05EQmo2dEZuUGpVd01iTlFPZl9GUTA4cHk2WW1NZjc4SmZHR2k4RDdIYUthTGwxU25iWlBpVzNSYk8xVi1WUlZoUHk5MjVWMTJCQTMxVkZvaXV5Z244YUJRQjRYTnIxMm9SWHlWOTJuVFpLZjhCdzZacEZ6enc4b1dRMFZ4TnRWOEpycGVSRHZhblVuNk8yVmxQeDR3WWVDelJ5MUM?oc=5) |
| Courthouse News | Costco accused of selling protein powder contaminated with lead, arsenic | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxOanRHMmZNdjVSV1dJd3MyS0QxeG5Nb3pkRy0xTjZEUzA1YzFJUjZqWUhXME1xRXZTQlRhOEVabTdqcFBFMFM0SVZGZm12MHJ2eE5wOWhzdWV5ay1wZkszdmJKQ3ZzOU5JRkowMV93NnZQbXJzRzJhdlJELTBzVGFnVk1OQlRaZ3dsczZfU0o4TUVPWUF0dDJ5ZzAwZW5yMUVaUU8yUXhR?oc=5) |
| ABC10 | Costco sued over protein powder, plaintiffs allege no warning about presence of toxic heavy metals | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizgFBVV95cUxPdThLZDVRRUdJQVF3SGFZM0lOQkYyZzJvVDEta2VPRWdlWW5WUEFOd2Y2Q2N3b19yVGw2Q3FrbWtzUTRFd29DMENoS0lMVGR4aXBwSnNZWUF0T2VHSFRGTEJNNlFwYVhqMVNpWWxZenpHVGMzMGE0djNtTGhMSmk4OE9iTGk2ckhhMXdmU19CeXFJLWExOHJ6Q3hkS2pVeGRDYWk0OU9WOUxTd1NEcmZDaDVtbWdnYWtia1cwcmRrQnZ1X0pNLVl5RkdLVjlGdw?oc=5) |
| The Seattle Times | Costco sued over protein powder | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipwFBVV95cUxNQUhybTUwNUxfSmc3RWE4YTdLUTR3aVh6TmRiaGdVMWhWR3BuUzRsdmpPYzBUTmI1MC1xNzZEM0FocXZLaFVQcHROVW9aQ2FBamlQN3ZQX3UwcXozMndHcGRkdjRaZzRzd2pNSmhja1ZjM3gtd3lzZml1cUZObG51Mk80eGZreHQtVEVkdzYtU05rYldoQllJRVo3aERuVUZZc2pGYW1PQQ?oc=5) |
| Hagens Berman | Consumer Lawsuit Against Costco Alleges Toxic Heavy Metals in Orgain Protein Supplements | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigwJBVV95cUxPajFLeDB6eU15QlVlVVFkM2t1VzRscElheUttbUt0Zy1xaTJnZllweHl4ZEl0c1hUM29RM2g3czlvLV9IUGVLQVNMcTFXdkV0THJkcExIRUNKWnhSUmVUWVVpY0xfNjMwTmgtTmtDV0I2eVdQNUZSeS1EanowVWh2bGpYTF9fZDVETl9XeFczNHFGQmpDSXd4akhYVVpFd1BEQVdvdmhXdDNRd3N2S1JjTWZMUnFjM3BzWnhpaldETGw5dHJBZ0U0eTZDNE8xbjVxbGFfRjFkQTFmbHAwMGdWZ3FyYlFqRXV2cloyZVhFRk81bEo3b0FmSUVsMTFCSGk4ZlJj?oc=5) |
| Detroit Free Press | Lawsuit claims Costco sold heavy metal-tainted protein powder | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitAFBVV95cUxOdWRtNkJpRVZHdTZuWEtGODVFcGhuM0tpRHBEaV9UZGZPUVF6dVZVemFYSGluMGFZcU03X0RzUzA0am45WEZRcWdHWklJR05RcjRZYTh3VjZRT2ZOSGo3b3pwdEY3M1ppSGNiTUQ3U01pZTZfeWF1NXdJLWxuN1JfWHZUZlFDU3NhRnlLdWZya3FwQjVpYXFNQnBuN3o3eGZnUGpWaVV2NmVUT3NKOThHaC01emE?oc=5) |
| 13newsnow.com | Costco sued over protein powder, plaintiffs allege no warning about presence of toxic heavy metals | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi0wFBVV95cUxPNV95QU1rWTBPWDRTYlBVNkx2YW1PRWVNU0J3S3BPMDFNRkZESnBoX3dobklObk1WZEVKdVRBX0gwVUFLQ1VnMi1KVUQ0TGJoV3RxaXBQM1F1S2x2bWIxdDBudTRmYmF4U1lUZVJ6YURLdWNPc0NXdmdFWXZqc1pwRnNwY1dBeTZSenFqaHpCTXZLc0JUN0Y0bDhGUmF6WFEtSUJna1Zvazk2aWw4dm1Lczd0Wllqc2tJRXdBTzZtd2wteVE4MVhYT20zMzJ1Umx5RjJN?oc=5) |
| The News International | Costco faces class action over alleged heavy metals in Orgain protein supplements | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwAFBVV95cUxPSVVFZUhJQ3kxeFdHclZmTi13LVVjVUk3ek5IRm1UOVB2bnR3YUItWHg4OHptZUhTSXJGajhjUm5ENVVDc240MzR1cWtQYWVHZmxLOE5uRlBYUjJhZXFhUHE4bDgxdjh2aUs0dWxqb2pVNC12UnV3RUg5NmdCOVVWdVNsaEpIVndPd09FOTNXT0RrX29RaEhXZ1cwdXVPOUpnX2l5LW83UGhOdFBTbGdMeGd0eFpjWGIwVzZDZHE1cWU?oc=5) |
| The Guardian | Costco accused in lawsuit of selling protein powder ‘tainted’ with toxic heavy metals | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigwFBVV95cUxPOFlnZTV0dHdCMGUtT2xoZ2hZc1lyQXlhZUFkY2Y0bWtvbmpCODF5aDZtUW9lN1VNR1kzUVRxeGlZTkliakhQN0hFMENSTU1BZTFCZmgtdXhmeTJIcUhkRHlQWk5idV9TcHZ2Xzlya0RwZHBaSl9VTGhCWGNsdHRXcThuRQ?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-07-09/costco-accused-in-lawsuit-of-selling-protein-powder-tainted-with-toxic-heavy*