Following a class-action lawsuit over the accuracy of its nutrition labels, fans of David Protein bars are taking to TikTok to express their frustrations.
One die-hard customer who says she eats one bar a day recently posted a viral video claiming she feels like she was “Regina Georged” by the company.
The reference comes from the movie “Mean Girls,” where the character Regina George is secretly given “bulking” protein bars under the impression that they’re a weight-loss product.
The video, posted by Maya Cain (@babytunechii), has since garnered more than 1 million views.
Cain begins the clip by explaining just how much she enjoys the bars.
“I love David protein bars,” she says. “I have them on a subscribe and save. They come to my apartment every two weeks.”
“OK, 12 bars every two weeks. That’s a lot of bars. I eat a bar a day. I love them,” she says.
But then, she says she came across something that changed her opinion.
“Today I just found out that they’ve been lying about the nutrition labels,” she claims in the video. “80% more fat. 80% more calories.”
She concludes, “I will be joining the class-action lawsuit.”
What’s The Allegation?
According to reporting from CBS News, the lawsuit alleges that David Protein misrepresented the calorie and fat content of its bars.
Independent testing cited in the complaint claims the bars may contain 83% more calories and 400% more fat than the label suggests.
This alleged percentage could be problematic because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows a 20% range of inaccuracy—but not more.
Currently, David bars list 150 calories, 28 grams of protein, and 0 grams of sugar on the nutrition label.
However, the company has pushed back against the allegations.
In a video posted to the brand’s official Instagram account, Dr. Mitch Culler from Epogee, the company behind the alternative fat used in David bars, defended the labeling.
“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,” he said, suggesting the disagreement stems from how the plaintiff calculated calories.
He even referenced the “Mean Girls” reference, which many TikTokers are pointing to, directly.
“It’s not October 3rd. I’m not Aaron Samuels. No one is getting Regina Georged,” he said.
Peter Rahal, CEO and co-founder of David, made a similar statement via X on Wednesday. He maintained that David bars are 150 calories and said the following:
“No one is getting Regina Georged. The confusion comes from how calories are being measured. When food is burned in a device called a bomb calorimeter, it measures the heat released. But nutrition labels aren’t based on how much heat something produces when burned. They’re based on what the human body can actually absorb and use for energy. That distinction matters for ingredients found in David, such as fiber, sweeteners, and fat substitutes like EPG. Burning them in a bomb calorimeter treats them as fully digestible calories, even though they are not. That’s why the FDA requires different calculation methods for these ingredients when determining calories.”
David Protein and Epogee have also been involved in a separate controversy related to Epogee. Critics allege the companies are limiting supply to other food manufacturers after David acquired the alternative fat company.
Commenters Aren’t Surprised
In the comments section, some viewers said they expected trouble over the David Bar nutrition label.
“Ok I’m a dietitian and I’ve also studied some food science while getting my degree, and nothing about the macros of the David bars ever made sense to me,” one commenter wrote. “I feel soooo validated rn wow.”
Another viewer offered a different perspective. “Okay but think of the positive that you were unknowingly eating that much more consistently everyday and life was totally fine!!” they wrote. “So you can keep doing it or replace w something more calorically dense to enjoyyy.”
“Being off by 80% is WILD,” another wrote.
@babytunechii I almost have to laugh
BroBible has reached out to David Protein and Cain via email for comment.