Powders and capsules containing ingredients such as wheat grass, spirulina, chlorella, and fruits and vegetables are a popular way to get vitamins, minerals, and other plant-based nutrients, but past tests by ConsumerLab have found these products can be contaminated with toxic heavy metals such as lead and arsenic. Contamination with pesticides and pathogenic bacteria can also be a concern. So which greens and whole food powders and capsules on the market provide the best quality and value, without contamination? 

To find out, ConsumerLab recently purchased and tested and reviewed popular greens and whole food powders and capsules sold in the U.S. The tests revealed that one product was contaminated with lead; the amount of gluten in the same product, labeled as "gluten free," was only slightly below the FDA limit, which may be of concern to people who are particularly sensitive to gluten. None of the products were contaminated with pathogenic bacteria or yeast or with dangerous pesticides. The cost to get a 5-gram serving from each of the products, including capsules, ranged nearly 10-fold from 37 cents to $3.02. 

Among products that were approved through testing, ConsumerLab selected Top Picks based on ingredients, quality, cost, and, for powders, taste. 

The results are available online in ConsumerLab's Greens and Whole Food Powders and Capsules Review. Ten of the products were selected for testing by ConsumerLab and two others underwent the same testing through CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program.