Why Mikuna Is the Cleanest Plant Protein Powder

Why Mikuna Is the Cleanest Plant Protein Powder on the Market

Clean, transparent nutrition is more important to consumers today than ever before. With growing concerns around heavy metals, pesticide residues, glyphosate contamination, and overly processed ingredients, shoppers want protein powders that are safe, minimally processed, and fully tested. Here, we address why Mikuna is the cleanest plant protein powder on the market.

Many popular plant proteins—especially rice, pea, soy, and hemp—can naturally accumulate heavy metals from soil, rely on pesticide-heavy farming systems, or require extensive processing that introduces additional contaminants.

Mikuna’s Chocho Protein stands apart as a single-ingredient, whole-food protein that undergoes rigorous testing for safety and purity. From the high-altitude soils where Chocho is grown to the finished product placed in your hands, Mikuna maintains one of the most transparent purity processes in the plant-protein industry.

Below, we break down exactly what “cleanest protein” means — and how Mikuna sets a gold standard for modern nutrition.

Understanding Purity in Plant Protein Powders

When people talk about “clean protein,” they usually refer to three things:

1. Low Heavy Metals

Many plant powders — especially rice-based proteins — can naturally accumulate:

• Lead (Pb)
• Cadmium (Cd)
• Arsenic (As)
• Mercury (Hg)

This usually occurs because the plant is grown in heavy-metal–dense soils or irrigated with contaminated water.

2. No Pesticide Residues

Conventional pea, soy, and rice crops are often exposed to:

• Glyphosate
• Herbicides
• Fungicides
• Insecticides

These residues can remain on the crop through harvest and processing.

3. Minimal Processing & No Additives

Many commercial proteins contain:

• Gums
• Fillers
• Emulsifiers
• Flavoring systems
• Anti-foaming agents

These processing aids contribute to “ultra-processed” classification and can affect digestibility.

Why Chocho Has One of the Cleanest Natural Profiles

Chocho (Lupinus mutabilis) thrives at 10,000–12,000+ feet in remote Andean ecosystems far from industrial agriculture.

This environment creates major purity advantages:

1. Naturally Low Heavy Metals

High-altitude Andean soils tend to have:

• Lower industrial contamination
• Less runoff from modern agriculture
• Cleaner water sources
• Minimal heavy-metal accumulation

Independent third-party lab testing confirms that Mikuna Chocho Protein remains consistently low in heavy metals, well below Prop 65 and international thresholds.

2. Grown Without Pesticides

Chocho is naturally pest-resistant thanks to its botanical compounds (removed during debittering), meaning farmers do not need synthetic pesticides.

This eliminates risk of:

• Glyphosate
• Herbicide residues
• Fungicides
• Insecticides

A major differentiator compared to pea and soy.

3. No Irrigation = No Waterborne Contaminants

Chocho is grown with seasonal rainfall, not irrigation systems.

This avoids:

• Heavy metal uptake from industrial water sources
• Contamination from agricultural runoff
• Accumulated pollutants common in lowland farming systems

4. Clean, Single-Ingredient Processing

Mikuna’s protein contains one ingredient: Chocho.

No:

• Natural flavors
• Sweeteners
• Gums
• Lecithins
• Fillers
• Anti-caking agents
• Extractants or isolates

This makes Mikuna one of the least processed protein powders available today.

Mikuna’s Purity Standards: Tested Every Step of the Way

Every batch of Mikuna Chocho Protein undergoes third-party laboratory testing for safety and compliance.

We test for:

✔ Heavy Metals

• Lead
• Cadmium
• Arsenic
• Mercury

✔ Pesticides

Full pesticide panel, including glyphosate.

✔ Microbial Safety

• E. coli
• Salmonella
• Yeast & mold
• Pathogens

✔ Allergens & Cross-Contaminants

✔ (When Applicable) PFAS Testing

Because consumers deserve transparency on emerging contaminants.

You can view all test results publicly here:
👉 https://mikunafoods.com/pages/test-results

This transparency ensures customers know exactly what they’re getting — every time.

How Mikuna Compares to Common Protein Powders

Chocho is the only one that is:

• Whole-food
• Single-ingredient
• Lectin-free
• Fiber-rich
• Naturally low in contaminants
• Free from agricultural chemical exposure

Why Mikuna Takes Purity So Seriously

Purity isn't just a marketing claim — it’s a commitment rooted in:

• Clean, regenerative Andean farming
• Respect for Indigenous ecosystems
• Responsible sourcing
• Transparent food production
• Minimally processed, whole-food ingredients
• Ethical partnerships with farming communities

Consumers deserve protein they can trust — with no surprises hidden in the fine print.

Conclusion

Not all plant proteins are created equal.
Chocho’s high-altitude origin, pesticide-free environment, low-input agriculture, and whole-food structure make it naturally clean. Mikuna’s rigorous testing and full transparency elevate that purity even further.

From contaminants to additives to processing level, Mikuna sets one of the highest purity standards in the plant-protein market — and openly proves it through batch-by-batch testing.

To see all current lab results, visit:
👉 https://mikunafoods.com/pages/test-results

Clean protein should be simple.
With Mikuna, it truly is.

Scientific Citations

1. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). (2021). Heavy metals in plant-based protein powders.
2. Consumer Reports. (2020). Contamination in protein supplements: heavy metal findings.
3. Jacobsen, S.-E. (2003). Agronomic properties of Andean legumes grown in high-altitude ecosystems. FAO.
4. Wink, M. (2018). Natural alkaloids in Lupinus species and their role in pest resistance. Phytochemistry Reviews.
5. Suárez, M. H., et al. (2022). Nutritional and agricultural profile of Lupinus mutabilis. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis.
6. USDA Pesticide Data Program (PDP). (2021). Glyphosate usage in conventional crop systems.