David Protein bars have gained immense popularity due to the high-protein food trend. However, they are now facing a class action lawsuit alleging the company misrepresents the fat and calorie content of its products.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New York in January, claims that an accredited laboratory revealed that David Protein bars, which come in flavors such as Chocolate Chip Cookie and Fudge Brownie, contain as much as 83% more calories and 400% more fat than the brand promotes, which claims 28 grams of protein for only 150 calories per bar.
This situation mirrors a memorable scene from the 2004 comedy Mean Girls, where Rachel McAdams’s character Regina George realizes she has been misled into consuming bars that contribute to weight gain. Nonetheless, David Protein’s CEO, Peter Rahal, dismissed these comparisons, attributing the issue to a misunderstanding.
“No one is getting Regina Georged,” Rahal stated in a social media post. “The confusion arises from how calories are measured.”
He elaborated, saying, “When food is assessed in a bomb calorimeter, it gauges the heat released. However, nutrition labels are based on what the human body can actually absorb and convert into energy.”
David Protein bars advertise that they contain 28 grams of protein for only 150 calories, but a new class action lawsuit accuses the brand of lying about their nutritional stats (Walmart)
David Protein CEO said that ‘no one is getting Regina Georged’ in a reference to the movie ‘Mean Girls,’ in which Rachel McAdams’ character, Regina George, gets tricked into eating weight-gain protein bars (Paramount Pictures)
“This distinction is crucial for certain ingredients like fiber, sweeteners, and fat substitutes such as EPG,” Rahal explained. “When these are assessed in a bomb calorimeter, they are considered fully digestible calories, which they are not. This is why the FDA mandates different calculation methods for these ingredients when determining calories. David bars are indeed 150 calories.”
Requests for further comment were not immediately answered by the plaintiffs’ attorneys or David Protein representatives.
The class action lawsuit alleges that David Protein, which began operations in late 2024, engaged in “unlawful and deceptive practices in labeling and marketing” to spike sales. If proven true, the company would be violating FDA regulations that mandate products to accurately declare nutritional content in food within 20% of actual figures.
The plaintiffs are requesting a jury trial and are seeking damages, restitution, and an injunction to prevent the sale of the allegedly mislabeled bars. The lawsuit aims to represent consumers in California, Illinois, and New York who purchased these misbranded protein bars. Rahal has stated his intent to vigorously contest the claim.
