2 min read- A class-action lawsuit is alleging that David Protein has misled consumers regarding the nutritional content of its protein bars.
- The packaging claims that the bars contain only 150 calories and 2 grams of fat, but laboratory tests indicate these figures are significantly higher.
- The lawsuit seeks damages, restitution, and an injunction against the company.
David Protein bars have gained attention for their impressive nutritional profile: each bar claims to deliver 28 grams of protein, zero grams of sugar, only 2 grams of fat, and 12 grams of carbohydrates, all within 150 calories. Priced at $3.25 per bar, these products quickly became popular after their launch a couple of years ago and they even won an award this year. However, questions are now being raised about their actual nutritional content.
A class-action lawsuit was filed against David Protein on January 23, alleging the company has misrepresented the calorie and fat content of its protein bars, thereby violating state and federal consumer protection laws. The lawsuit claims that the actual content of the bars exceeds the advertised values, with calorie counts reportedly 83% higher and fat content 400% greater than stated.
The complaint references findings from an accredited laboratory, which revealed that the bars contained between 268 and 275 calories per serving—over 100 calories more than claimed—and between 11 and 13.5 grams of fat per serving, a drastic difference from the stated 2 grams.
The lawsuit alleges that David Protein knowingly misled consumers through inaccurate nutrition labels, leading customers to make uninformed purchasing choices. It is argued that had consumers been adequately informed, they might have chosen not to buy the bars or would have agreed to pay a lower price.
Moreover, the lawsuit contends that these misrepresentations are in violation of FDA regulations, which stipulate that the nutrient content of a product must not exceed the declared amount by more than 20%. The plaintiffs are aiming to represent all consumers who have purchased David Protein bars in the United States and are calling for a jury trial, seeking damages, restitution, and an injunction to prevent the sale of inaccurately labeled products.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, David Protein’s founder, Peter Rahal, defended the accuracy of the product labeling, asserting, “This particular claim, among other things, fails to understand how the FDA measures the calories for EPG, one of our key ingredients. We intend to defend this claim vigorously.”
