David is the protein bar that broke the internet's brain: 28 grams of protein in 150 calories with zero grams of sugar. Nothing else on the shelf comes close to those numbers. The question is what it takes to get there, and whether that tradeoff is worth it for you.
We went through the label ingredient by ingredient, compared the macros against the bars people actually switch from, and pulled together what dietitians and reviewers report about taste and digestion. Here is the honest version.
David is the most macro-efficient protein bar you can buy, and one of the most engineered. If your only goal is hitting a protein target on a tight calorie budget, it is hard to beat. If you care about ingredient quality, digestive comfort, or avoiding artificial sweeteners, it is a poor fit. There is no version of this bar that is both.
David launched in September 2024, founded by Peter Rahal, who previously co-founded RXBAR. That background is ironic. RXBAR became famous for listing a handful of whole ingredients on the front of the wrapper. David goes the opposite direction: it treats the bar as an engineering problem and uses whatever ingredient systems get the macros lowest.
The company now sells two lines. The original bar, often labeled Gold at retail, carries 28g of protein. The newer Bronze line drops to 20g of protein at the same 150 calories. You can buy David direct, and it has spread into major retailers including Target and Walmart.
Numbers below come from David's own product pages and retail listings. Carbs and fat shift slightly by flavor, so check the specific box you buy.
| Spec | David Gold (original) | David Bronze |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 28g | 20g |
| Calories | 150 | 150 |
| Total sugars | 0g | 0g |
| Total carbs | 12g (varies by flavor) | 15-16g (varies by flavor) |
| Fat | 2.5g (varies by flavor) | 3.5-4.5g (varies by flavor) |
| Main protein sources | Milk protein isolate, collagen, whey concentrate, egg white | Milk-based protein blend |
| Sweeteners | Maltitol, allulose, sucralose, acesulfame potassium | Sugar alcohols plus high-intensity sweeteners |
| Fat replacer | EPG (modified plant fat) | EPG (modified plant fat) |
The standout figure is protein density. At 28g of protein in 150 calories, roughly 75% of the calories in a Gold bar come from protein. Most mainstream protein bars land between 35% and 45%.
David groups its label into "systems," which is actually a useful way to read it.
Milk protein isolate, collagen, whey protein concentrate, and egg white. Milk, whey, and egg are complete proteins with strong amino acid profiles. Collagen is the weak link: it is missing the essential amino acid tryptophan and is low in leucine, the amino acid most tied to muscle protein synthesis. Collagen is cheap and helps texture, so it shows up in a lot of bars. It means not every one of those 28 grams pulls equal weight for muscle.
Maltitol, allulose, glycerin, soluble corn fiber, tapioca starch, and soy lecithin. This is what replaces sugar and holds the bar together. Allulose is a rare sugar most people tolerate well. Maltitol is the one to watch: it is among the sugar alcohols most associated with gas, bloating, and loose stools, and it has a higher glycemic effect than alternatives like erythritol. Soluble corn fiber can also ferment in the gut for some people.
This is where David is truly different. The main fat is EPG (esterified propoxylated glycerol), a modified plant fat the body only partially absorbs. Industry coverage puts it at roughly 0.7 calories per gram versus 9 for ordinary fat. It is the main reason David can deliver a creamy bite at 150 calories. David liked the ingredient enough to acquire Epogee, its maker, in 2025.
EPG is often compared to Olestra, the 1990s fat substitute known for digestive side effects. A dietitian quoted by PopSugar noted that higher intakes of EPG, around 25 to 40 grams a day, were linked to digestive issues in a 2014 study. The amount in a single bar is not disclosed and is almost certainly far lower. Still, if you eat two or three bars a day, you are stacking maltitol, fiber, and EPG in one gut.
Cocoa, unsweetened chocolate, salt, natural and artificial flavors, sucralose, and acesulfame potassium. If you avoid artificial sweeteners, this alone rules David out.
Reviews are genuinely split. Fans describe the texture as closer to a dense cookie dough than a chalky protein brick, and flavors like Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Salted Peanut Butter get the most love. Critics describe a noticeable artificial sweetness and a slightly waxy finish, which is a common side effect of fat replacers. A reviewer for Food Network wrote plainly that she does not love how they taste, while still concluding the bars are what they say they are.
Our read: if you already enjoy Quest or other high-protein, sugar-free bars, you will probably like David. If you judge bars against a Barebells or a real candy bar, expect to notice the difference.
The most common complaint about David is not taste. It is how people feel an hour later. Registered dietitians reviewing the bar consistently flag the same three culprits: maltitol, soluble corn fiber, and EPG. Each can cause gas or bloating on its own in sensitive people. Together, in one bar, the effect can add up.
Practical advice if you want to try it:
For a deeper look at why these sweeteners cause trouble, see our guide to sugar alcohols in protein bars.
"Calories per gram of protein" is the fairest way to compare high-protein bars. Lower is more efficient. Cost figures for David use its direct price of about $39 for a 12-pack of Gold; retail prices vary, so treat these as rough.
| Bar | Protein | Calories | Calories per gram of protein | Cost per gram of protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Gold | 28g | 150 | 5.4g | ~$0.12 |
| David Bronze | 20g | 150 | 3.8g | ~$0.16 |
| Barebells | 20g | 200 | 2.9g | varies |
| Quest | 20-21g | 190-210 | ~2.4g | varies |
| RXBAR | 12g | ~200 | ~1.4g | varies |
David wins the efficiency column outright. Where it loses is everything the table cannot show: ingredient simplicity, digestive comfort, and sweetener choice. See our Barebells review, Quest review, and RXBAR review for full breakdowns of each.
It depends on what you mean by healthy. David is low in sugar, low in calories, and high in protein, which makes it useful for weight management. It is also a highly processed product built on sugar alcohols, artificial sweeteners, and a synthetic fat replacer. Those two facts are both true.
Our position is that a protein bar should earn its place with ingredients your body recognizes. By that standard, David is a tool rather than a food: fine as an occasional convenience, a poor foundation for daily eating. If you want the protein without the engineering, look at our list of the cleanest protein bars, which trades a few grams of protein for a far shorter label.
In January 2026, a class action (Lopez et al. v. Linus Technologies, Inc., d/b/a David Protein) alleged that lab testing found the bars contained up to roughly 80% more calories and 400% more fat than labeled. Founder Peter Rahal responded in a March 12, 2026 letter arguing the testing relied on bomb calorimetry, which measures heat released by burning food rather than what the body actually absorbs. The plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed the case on March 30, 2026, as reported by NBC News, USA Today, and Inc.
A separate antitrust suit from three smaller food brands over David's acquisition of EPG maker Epogee was dismissed by a federal judge in February 2026. Neither case ended in a finding that David's labels were wrong. The core scientific question, how many calories your body really gets from EPG, is the reason the debate went viral.
| If this sounds like you | What we recommend |
|---|---|
| You want the most protein per calorie | David Gold. 28g in 150 calories has no close competitor right now |
| Sugar alcohols give you gas or bloating | Skip it. Maltitol is one of the harder sugar alcohols to tolerate |
| You avoid artificial sweeteners | Skip it. Sucralose and acesulfame potassium are on every label |
| You want a short, recognizable ingredient list | Skip it. Look at RXBAR or a whole food bar instead |
| You are cutting and track every calorie | A reasonable tool, as long as it replaces something, not adds to it |
| You have a milk, egg, or soy allergy | Skip it. The bars contain milk, egg, and soy |
David delivers exactly what it promises on the label: the most protein per calorie of any mainstream bar. The cost of that efficiency is an ingredient list full of sugar alcohols, artificial sweeteners, and a fat you mostly do not digest. For a disciplined cut, it is a legitimately useful tool. For everyday nutrition, we would reach for a bar built from real food and get the rest of our protein from meals.
The original David bar (Gold) has 28g of protein and 150 calories. The Bronze line has 20g of protein, also at 150 calories.
No. Both lines list 0g of total sugar. Sweetness comes from maltitol, allulose, sucralose, and acesulfame potassium.
EPG (esterified propoxylated glycerol) is a modified plant fat the body only partially absorbs, so it contributes far fewer calories than regular fat. It is why David can hit 150 calories with a creamy texture.
The usual suspects are maltitol, soluble corn fiber, and EPG. Each can cause gas or bloating in sensitive people, and one bar contains all three. Start with half a bar and see how you respond.
Yes. The class action alleging undercounted calories and fat was voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiffs on March 30, 2026. A separate antitrust case over the Epogee acquisition was dismissed by a federal judge in February 2026.
David was founded by Peter Rahal, co-founder of RXBAR, and launched in September 2024. The company operates as Linus Technologies, Inc.
On protein per calorie, yes. David Gold delivers 28g in 150 calories versus about 20g in 190 to 210 for Quest. Both rely on sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners, so neither is a clean-label choice.
Sources: David product pages and FAQ (davidprotein.com); David launch release, PR Newswire, Sept. 16, 2024; NBC News, Mar. 13 and Mar. 31, 2026; USA Today, Apr. 1, 2026; Inc., Mar. 31, 2026; Food Network, Mar. 17, 2026; Food Business News, June 2025; PopSugar, June 2025; Parade, Sept. 2025. Nutrition facts change; always check the current label.
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