David’s protein bar founder backs down after lawsuit accuses company of counting calories

The growing controversy surrounding David’s protein bars – a favorite among health advocates – has been compared to the movie “Mean Girls.”

A class action lawsuit filed in January alleges the popular bars contain more than 400% more fat and 80% more calories than advertised. It’s sparked a flurry of recent posts on social media about movie queen-bee actress Regina George, who discovers that the “healthy” diet bars she’s been given are actually making her gain weight, not lose weight. Some have likened the situation to an episode of “Seinfeld” where the “nonfat” yogurt that everyone loves — spoiler alert — is full of fat.

On Wednesday, the company’s founder, Peter Rahal, responded in a statement to X: “Nobody gets Regina Georged.”

In an interview, Rahal said the issue comes down to how calories are counted.

“It’s a ridiculous issue when they’re using the wrong measurement and method of measuring calories,” he said.

The labels on David’s protein bars — which come in flavors like fudge brownie, blueberry pie and cake batter — list 150 calories and 2 grams of fat. But the lawsuit describes independent tests that found the bars have 268 to 275 calories per serving and 11 to 13.5 grams of fat.

The plaintiffs claim that this contravention violates Food and Drug Administration standards, which mandate that the nutrient content of foods not exceed the declared amount by more than 20%.

But Rahal said the plaintiffs’ assessment was flawed. The difference, he said, is related to an ingredient in David’s protein bars called esterified propoxylated glycerol, or EPG, a modified vegetable oil that travels through the body without being digested.

“This is what makes David 150 calories,” Rahal said. “It’s a really special ingredient that allows food to taste like fat without the calories.”

The laboratory named in the lawsuit, Rahal said, used a device called a bomb calorimeter to count the calories in David’s bars. That method includes calories from non-digestible ingredients — including EPG — in its calculations, he added.

“The science is unquestionable. You don’t use a bomb calorimeter to measure junk. It’s very basic,” Rahal said.

The calorie count listed on David’s protein bars, Rahal added, is based on a calculation of just the calories the body absorbs. The company complied with FDA regulations while developing its barriers, he said.

The case does not specify the method used to measure calories. Anresco Laboratories, which conducted the research, said it could not comment due to confidentiality agreements.

Amy Goodson, a registered dietitian, said EPG has been around as an ingredient since the 1980s and has come to the fore in recent years.

“This ingredient allows you to put fewer grams of fat on the food label itself, because it produces 92% fewer calories than a regular gram of fat,” he said. “It’s resistant to digestive enzymes, so it goes through your system, but it’s not actually digested.”

That’s a confusing concept for the everyday consumer, Goodson added.

“We look at the nutrition facts label and assume that what’s on the label is what’s in the product,” she said.

David Protein, founded in 2024, quickly rose to prominence, with top names in the field of health and longevity signed on as investors, including Andrew Huberman, a neurologist and podcaster, and Peter Attia, a renowned physician and author. Last month, Attia resigned as chief scientific officer at David Protein amid controversy over his emails with Jeffrey Epstein.

The hype surrounding David’s bars came amid a nationwide craze for protein. The new US dietary guidelines, introduced in January, put more emphasis on protein, recommending every meal. Brands have capitalized on the craze: “Doritos Protein” chips hit store shelves this month, Starbucks is selling protein matcha, and the Protein Pints ​​company is even promoting high-protein ice cream.

Rahal said David Protein plans to fight the case.

“Anytime you’re at the forefront of innovation, there’s confusion,” he said. “We represent our brand fully.”