A class-action lawsuit accusing trendy David protein bars of containing far more fat and calories than advertised is stirring up controversy around one of the internet’s favorite wellness snacks.
On Wednesday, David Protein founder Peter Rahal pushed back on the claims, saying the case hinges on how calories are measured and calling the lawsuit “frivolous.” Rahal said the company stands by its labeling practices and plans to fight the case, according to NBC News.
Filed in January, the lawsuit alleges the influencer-loved bars contain more than 400% more fat and about 80% more calories than the label suggests. The bars, which come in flavors such as fudge brownie, blueberry pie and cake batter, list 150 calories and 2 grams of fat per serving. Independent testing cited in the complaint allegedly found 268 to 275 calories and up to 13.5 grams of fat per bar.
The plaintiffs argue the discrepancy violates Food and Drug Administration labeling standards, which generally require that the nutrient content of a food item not exceed declared values by more than 20%.
Mr. Rahal said the difference stems from an ingredient in the bars called esterified propoxylated glycerol, a plant-based fat substitute that largely passes through the body without being digested. According to Rahal, the testing referenced in the lawsuit relied on a device called a bomb calorimeter, which measures the total energy in food — including ingredients the body doesn’t absorb.
“That method counts calories that your body never uses,” Mr. Rahal said.
Nutrition expert Amy Goodson, a registered dietitian, said ingredients such as EPG can make nutrition labels confusing for consumers who assume the listed calories reflect everything physically present in the product.