“Naked” Protein Powders Hide A Toxic Secret, Class Action Claims

Case Overview: The lawsuit claims Naked Nutrition misled consumers by advertising its protein powder as clean and pure while it allegedly contained unsafe levels of lead.

Consumers Affected: Individuals who purchased Naked Mass Vegan Mass Gainer or similar products marketed as free from harmful ingredients.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California

Naked Nutrition misleads consumers by advertising its plant-based protein powders as clean, premium products while allegedly selling supplements that contained, or carried a significant risk of containing, unsafe levels of lead, a new lawsuit claims.

The complaint claims the company profited from branding built on transparency and purity, even as independent testing suggested its powders posed potential health risks.

Plaintiff Says He Paid a Premium for a “Pure” Product That Wasn’t Safe

The case was filed by California resident Sevien Caballero, who bought Naked Mass Vegan Mass Gainer regularly from Amazon between October 2024 and October 2025.

He believed he was purchasing a high-quality protein powder made with “premium ingredients,” relying on the branding that promised nothing to hide and independent heavy-metal testing.

According to the complaint, Caballero used the product for nearly a year without knowing it allegedly contained, or risked containing, lead. He says he wouldn’t have bought the powder, or paid what he describes as a price premium, if he knew the truth. 

Even future purchases, he argues, would be impossible unless the company corrected its labeling and advertising. The lawsuit emphasizes that ordinary buyers have no way to test products themselves and must rely on the manufacturer’s claims.

Testing Allegedly Found Lead Levels Far Above Safety Limits

The lawsuit centers on “Ingredient Representations,” statements on Naked Nutrition’s packaging and website that describe the powders as clean, nutritious, and free from unnecessary additives. But internal testing cited in the complaint says otherwise. 

Consumer Reports analyzed multiple lots of the Vegan Mass Gainer and reported that a single serving contained 7.7 micrograms of lead, more than 1,500 percent of California’s daily exposure limit under Proposition 65. 

The organization flagged the product as one to avoid, noting that consuming one serving could push an adult beyond the FDA’s own reference levels for dietary lead.

The complaint also outlines widely accepted health risks tied to lead exposure, from kidney and reproductive issues in adults to neurological damage and developmental harm in children and fetuses.

Other Protein Brands Face Similar Heavy Metal Lawsuits

Naked Nutrition isn’t alone. Several big supplement names are battling lawsuits over undisclosed contaminants, including OWYN, whose chocolate plant-protein powder allegedly contains lead levels exceeding California’s reproductive-toxicity threshold despite marketing that promises “only what you need.” 

Huel is also facing litigation over alleged heavy-metal contamination, while other cases have targeted Vital Amine for overstated protein content and Amazon for selling rice tainted with toxic metals.

Caballero aims to represent all consumers nationwide who bought the products for personal use within the statute of limitations. He is suing for violations of California’s consumer-protection and advertising laws, plus fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and unjust enrichment. 

The lawsuit seeks monetary damages as well as a court order requiring the company to clearly disclose any presence or risk of heavy metals on its labels.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Caballero v. Naked Whey, Inc., D/B/A Naked Nutrition
• Case Number: 2:25-at-01437
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California

Plaintiffs' Attorney:

• Lisa T. Omoto and Zachary M. Winkler (Faruqi & Faruqi LLP)

Do you trust supplement labels that claim to be “clean” or “natural”? Share your take in the comments.