San Francisco is taking on ultraprocessed food in a new lawsuit
San Francisco has taken a bold step in addressing a growing public health crisis by filing a lawsuit against 11 major food brands, including industry giants such as Coca-Cola and Nestlé. The lawsuit, initiated by City Attorney David Chiu, claims that these companies are responsible for the proliferation of ultra-processed foods that contribute significantly to rising rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease among residents. The 64-page legal document accuses these brands of not only failing to provide adequate health warnings but also of making misleading claims about their products’ nutritional value and targeting marketing efforts toward children. The city argues that these tactics have led to an epidemic of chronic illnesses, ultimately burdening taxpayers with the healthcare costs associated with these preventable diseases.
The lawsuit highlights a growing concern in the United States regarding the impact of ultra-processed foods on public health. Chiu’s allegations suggest that these companies have engineered their products to be addictive, thereby increasing consumer dependency on unhealthy food options. This legal action aligns with a broader movement within the U.S. government aimed at reforming food production and consumption practices. For instance, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been vocal about phasing out harmful food additives, and President Donald Trump has made commitments to improve food quality, such as encouraging Coca-Cola to replace high-fructose corn syrup with real cane sugar. The outcome of this lawsuit could set a significant precedent for how food companies market their products and could lead to stricter regulations on food advertising, particularly towards vulnerable populations like children.
As the case unfolds, it raises important questions about corporate responsibility and public health policy. If successful, the lawsuit could compel these food brands to change their marketing strategies and reformulate their products, potentially leading to a healthier food environment in San Francisco and beyond. The implications of this legal battle extend far beyond the city limits, as it reflects a nationwide reckoning with the health consequences of processed foods and the urgent need for systemic changes in the food industry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKQegWOsW8U
San Francisco is suing major food brands, accusing them of fueling a public health crisis with ultra-processed foods.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
San Francisco is suing 11 major food brands, accusing the companies of fueling a public health crisis.
It accused brands like Coca-Cola and Nestlé of selling processed foods that lead to diabetes and obesity.
The lawsuit comes as the Trump administration cracks down on processed foods.
San Francisco is going after food brands that produce “ultra-processed foods,” accusing the companies of fueling a public health crisis.
The 64-page lawsuit, filed on December 2 by San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu, accused some of the country’s biggest food brands of selling dangerous, ultra-processed foods to residents of San Francisco.
It named 11 brands as defendants: The Kraft Heinz Company, Mondelez International, Post Holdings, The Coca-Cola Company, Pepsico Inc., General Mills, Nestlé, Kellanova, WK Kellogg Co., Mars Inc., and Conagra Brands.
The city attorney said the brands had profited from selling
ultra-processed foods
, which make people crave what they otherwise would not.
The attorney accused the brands of failing to include health warnings, making fraudulent claims about the products being healthy, and of targeted marketing at children.
Products from these brands include cereals, candies, soft drinks, and ready-to-eat meals.
“They designed food to be addictive, they knew the addictive food they were engineering was making their customers sick, and they hid the truth from the public,” the attorney wrote, adding that taxpayers were left to foot the bill of a resulting public health crisis.
It said that ultra-processed foods majorly contribute to obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic illnesses.
Chiu called for the brands to cease further deceptive marketing and pay civil penalties to the city of San Francisco.
Representatives for the 11 brands did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.
The lawsuit comes as the US is clamping down on processed foods, a result of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement.
In April, Kennedy said he would phase out eight petroleum-based
food dyes
in the US by 2027. And in July, President Donald Trump said that Coca-Cola had agreed to
use real cane sugar
in its products in the US, instead of corn syrup that it now uses.
Read the original article on
Business Insider
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering Business news.
