David Protein Bars Facing Lawsuit Over Alleged Calorie and Fat Mislabeling

Class action lawsuit claims popular protein bars contain more fat and calories than advertised

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:06pm

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A class action lawsuit has been filed against the popular protein bar brand David, alleging that the company is misleading consumers by undercounting the fat and calorie content of its products. The lawsuit claims that independent lab testing found the bars have over 100 more calories and over 10 grams more fat than what is listed on the nutrition labels.

Why it matters

This lawsuit highlights ongoing concerns about transparency and accuracy in food labeling, which is an important issue for health-conscious consumers trying to make informed choices. The case has also drawn comparisons to the 'Mean Girls' movie, where a character discovers a weight-loss snack bar actually has the opposite effect.

The details

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for Southern New York, alleges that David's protein bars contain significantly more fat and calories than advertised. According to the plaintiffs' testing, the bars have between 263-275 calories, compared to the 150 calories listed, and upwards of 13 grams of fat, rather than the 2-2.5 grams claimed. David has responded by saying the 'confusion comes from how calories are being measured', explaining that a bomb calorimeter measures heat released when food is burned, while nutrition labels reflect the calories the body can actually absorb.

  • The lawsuit was filed on January 23, 2026 in U.S. District Court for Southern New York.
  • News of the lawsuit circulated online this week (March 13, 2026).

The players

David

The popular protein bar brand that is facing the class action lawsuit over alleged mislabeling of fat and calorie content.

Daniella Lopez

One of the three plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit against David, representing consumers in Los Angeles, California.

David Freifeld

One of the three plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit against David, representing consumers in Vernon Hills, Illinois.

Crystal Paterson

One of the three plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit against David, representing consumers in New York, New York.

Mitch Culler

A food scientist who appeared in a video posted by David to explain the 'confusion' around how calories are measured.

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What they’re saying

“No one is getting Regina Georged”

— David

“The misunderstanding is coming from confusion around a device called a bomb calorimeter, which measures the heat released when a food is burned, and that's actually where the phrase 'burning calories' comes from. But your body is not a furnace. A nutrition facts panel measures the calories that your body can absorb from the food, not just those that are released when it's burned.”

— Mitch Culler, Food Scientist

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to allow the class action lawsuit to proceed to a jury trial, where David would be required to pay damages if found liable for mislabeling the fat and calorie content of its protein bars.

The takeaway

This lawsuit highlights the ongoing challenges around food labeling accuracy and transparency, as well as the importance for consumers to be able to trust the nutritional information provided by food manufacturers. The case also demonstrates how social media can amplify these types of consumer disputes.