Protein Bars, Market Definition And Injunctions

As an avid runner, I am always looking for the perfect protein bar. A great protein bar must find the balance between taste and texture on the one hand and nutritional value and low-caloric content on the other. Usually, a certain amount of fat is needed for a savory taste and smooth texture, but that also often increases the bar's calorie count.

So, it was interesting to discover an antitrust case involving this particular dilemma. The case was Own Your Hunger LLC, Lighten Up Foods, and Defiant Foods LLC vs. Linus Technology, Inc., Epogee LLC, and Peter Rahal. The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in June 2025 by three low-calorie food producers that use esterified propoxylated glycerol ("EPG"), a patented fat replacement vegetable-based ingredient that that reduces calories by 92% compared to an equal amount of ordinary animal fat ingredients. EPG is produced only by a company named Epogee, because it