David Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bar — ENGINEERED

Munch or Dump rates David Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bar by David ENGINEERED — score 30/90.

David's headline macros of 28g protein, 150 calories, and near-zero fat are a feat of food engineering, not nutrition. The 'zero fat' comes from EPG, a synthetic plant fat the body cannot digest, and part of the protein is collagen, an incomplete protein David has been legally challenged for counting. Four sweeteners build the flavor. It is a lab-designed macro product, and it says so in its own ingredient list.

Why this verdict

• NOVA 4 built around EPG (esterified propoxylated glycerol), a synthetic non-digestible fat replacer that makes the near-zero-fat macro possible
• Protein is padded with collagen, an incomplete protein that inferior for muscle synthesis and the subject of a class-action challenge to David's protein claim
• Four sweeteners stacked (maltitol + allulose + sucralose + acesulfame potassium) to reach 0g sugar
• Soluble corn fiber and tapioca starch inflate carbohydrate/fiber while glycerin and soy lecithin bind the texture
• Whey and milk protein isolate are high quality, but the overall formula is engineered for a macro screenshot, not for food

Ingredients (11)

• Milk protein isolate (safe) — Additional high-purity milk protein.
• collagen (moderate) — Incomplete protein used to pad the protein count; weak for muscle synthesis.
• egg white (safe) — Whipped egg white gives the meringue structure.
• maltitol (caution) — Sugar alcohol that still raises blood sugar and is a well-known cause of bloating and diarrhea at bar-sized doses.
• ALLULOSE (safe) — Rare sugar with minimal glycemic impact; generally well tolerated.
• soluble corn fiber (moderate) — Isolated fiber used to bulk the bar and lower net carbs; can cause GI upset in quantity.
• modified plant fat (EPG) (caution) — Esterified propoxylated glycerol, a synthetic non-digestible fat that fakes fat mouthfeel with near-zero calories; can cause GI effects.
• Coconut Oil (safe) — Plant fat used for the shell coating.
• Natural and Artificial Flavor (moderate) — Added flavor system, including artificial flavor.
• Sucralose (moderate) — Artificial sweetener; unexpected in a bakery pie and a second sweetness source.
• Acesulfame Potassium (caution) — Second artificial sweetener stacked with sucralose.

Healthier alternatives

• Chocolate Sea Salt RXBAR
• RXBAR Chocolate Sea Salt Protein Bar
• Peanut Butter Protein Bar
• Peanut Butter Perfect Bar
• RXBAR Blueberry Protein Bar