Consumer Reports put popular bubble tea ingredients under a microscope and found worrisome traces of lead in both tapioca pearls and the drink itself, prompting experts to urge moderation even as measured levels stayed below the organization’s formal thresholds of concern.
Bubble tea, the sweet drink built from brewed tea, milk or creamer, sweetener and chewy tapioca pearls or jelly bubbles, has become a mainstream snack beyond its Taiwanese roots. Shops, canned shelves and at-home kits make it easy to grab one frequently, but convenience does not erase the need to understand what’s inside. Recent testing targeted both the liquid and the boba to see whether heavy metals were present. The focus was on lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury.
Consumer Reports tested boba pearls from two well-known chains and two packaged products, analyzing three samples of each and checking the beverage and pearls separately. None of the samples showed arsenic, cadmium or mercury at levels that would trigger immediate alarm, but lead showed up in multiple products. While none exceeded Consumer Reports’ official levels of concern, several came close enough to raise flags for regular consumers.
Measured concern levels for lead varied across the samples, with WuFuYuan’s Tapioca Pearl at 29%, Kung Fu Tea’s Milk Tea with Boba at 63%, Gong Cha Pearl Milk Tea at 70% and Trader Joe’s Instant Boba Kit at 83%. Three of the four products contained more than half of the level of concern in a single serving, which suggests occasional indulgence rather than daily consumption. These numbers also sit far below the extreme readings seen in isolated cassava-based foods, but Consumer Reports emphasized that no lead exposure is considered safe.
Experts noted that lead appeared in both the pearls and the liquid, and the source of the lead in the drink portion wasn’t clear. Sana Mujahid, Ph.D., manager of food safety research and testing for Consumer Reports, said it’s “difficult to tell” where the lead in the liquid portion came from. James E. Rogers, Ph.D., director of food safety research and testing, pointed out the importance of context when interpreting test results. He called the findings “a good reason to treat it as an occasional treat, not an everyday staple.”
Public-health concerns around lead are well established: it accumulates in the body and poses special dangers to developing brains and nervous systems, especially during pregnancy and early childhood. Rogers also noted that “It’s hard to avoid being exposed to some lead. It’s found in varying amounts in food, drinking water, soil and many homes,” Rogers said. “The health risks come from repeated or continuous exposure over time.” He added, “But small amounts add up and, in the long run, may have health effects. That’s why it’s prudent to minimize your exposure to known sources of lead when you can.”
Outside experts added perspective on broader public health impacts tied to adult lead exposure, highlighting significant downstream effects. Tom Neltner, national director of Unleaded Kids in Washington, D.C., commented in the report that adult lead exposure leads to about 256,000 cardiovascular disease deaths each year. Those figures underscore why even modest contamination in widely consumed foods and drinks draws attention from regulators and consumer advocates alike.
Nutritional downsides of bubble tea go beyond heavy metals: many versions are high in added sugar and calories, with some loaded choices approaching 1,000 calories depending on mix-ins and toppings. Consumer Reports advised limiting regular consumption of boba tea and treating options known to contain lead or other heavy metals with caution. Trader Joe’s later discontinued its Instant Boba Kit, and a representative for WuFuYuan’s parent company said, “We take the safety of our products very seriously, and your outreach has prompted us to further improve our existing quality control measures.”
Gong Cha also issued a statement emphasizing supplier testing and internal checks, writing, “To uphold our high standards, we work with suppliers who undergo rigorous independent testing,” the company wrote. “Our boba pearls, like most boba pearls, are made from tapioca, a root vegetable. Because root crops can naturally absorb trace amounts of lead from soil and water, we closely monitor to ensure levels remain well within FDA guidance.” The company added that its own independent tests have shown “no adverse findings.”
