San Francisco has filed a lawsuit against top food manufacturers, claiming their ultraprocessed products are driving a public health crisis.
City Attorney David Chiu named 10 companies in the lawsuit, including Coca-Cola, Nestle, PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, Post Holdings, Mondelez International, General Mills, Kellogg, Mars, and ConAgra Brands. These companies produce popular products such as Oreo cookies, Sour Patch Kids, Kit Kat, Cheerios, Lunchables, and other widely consumed snacks. The lawsuit argues that ultraprocessed foods contribute to serious diseases, including Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, heart disease, colorectal cancer, and even depression in younger populations.
“These companies engineered a public health crisis, they profited handsomely, and now they need to take responsibility for the harm they have caused,” Chiu said in a statement. He added that ultraprocessed foods are “formulations of chemically manipulated cheap ingredients with little or no whole food added,” designed to create cravings and encourage overconsumption.
Ultraprocessed foods cover a wide range of products, including candy, chips, sodas, energy drinks, processed meats, and breakfast cereals. Scientific research increasingly links these foods to chronic health conditions, highlighting a growing concern among public health experts. University of California, San Francisco professor Kim Newell-Green emphasized that mounting studies now connect these products to multiple serious diseases.
The lawsuit seeks a court order to curb deceptive marketing, require the companies to educate consumers on health risks, and limit advertising aimed at children. It also requests financial penalties to support local governments with healthcare costs related to ultraprocessed food consumption.
San Francisco’s action comes amid broader efforts in the United States to address the impact of ultraprocessed foods. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has campaigned against these products, calling for their removal from programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Additionally, in October, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to gradually phase out certain ultraprocessed foods from school meals over the next decade.
A recent CDC report found that most Americans derive more than half their daily calories from ultraprocessed foods. San Francisco’s lawsuit highlights a growing national focus on the health risks of highly processed foods and the responsibilities of manufacturers to protect public health.