US EditionSan Francisco sues Kraft, Mondelez over ultra-processed foods
San Francisco alleges 10 major food companies engineered addictive ultra-processed foods linked to chronic diseases and seeks penalties and marketing restrictions to protect public health.
- On Tuesday, San Francisco filed a lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court naming 10 major food manufacturers, alleging they knowingly sickened Californians with addictive ultra-processed foods.
- City Attorney David Chiu argues companies used tobacco-like tactics to market addictive ultra-processed foods, which San Francisco links to rising chronic diseases in low-income communities and communities of color.
- The complaint requests monetary restitution and civil penalties to cover health care costs and injunctions on deceptive marketing with required consumer education and limits on advertising to children.
- Legal experts note this lawsuit could set a legal framework for other cities, citing health-care costs tied to ultra-processed foods at upwards of $100 billion a year and referencing California's law to phase out certain UPFs from school meals.
- Major studies find ultra-processed foods make up 70% of the U.S. food supply, with youths consuming roughly 62% of their calories from these products.
184 Articles
184 Articles
Major US city files first-of-its-kind lawsuit against Coca-Cola, Nestle amid looming crisis: 'They took food and made it unrecognizable'
San Francisco has filed a lawsuit against several food and beverage giants for pushing unhealthy ultra-processed foods onto the market. What's happening? On December 2, the city of San Francisco filed a wide-ranging lawsuit against not one or two, but 10 big-name food conglomerates, including Coca-Cola and Nestlé. In a press release issued by the Office of the City Attorney, David Chiu, San Francisco announced a "first-of-its-kind lawsuit" aga…
There is no evidence that small amounts of chips or sugar harm the body. An activist city lawyer sees it differently. He harms the American consumers, which he pretends to protect.
San Francisco Sues Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Others Over 'Ultra-Processed' Products: Lawsuit
Companies such as Kraft Heinz, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are named in the suitDavid Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty; Kevin Carter/Getty Coca-Cola brand Diet Coke, Cherry Coke, Minute Maid, and Sprite soft drinks for sale in a store in Crockett, California, US, on Friday, April 25, 2025.NEED TO KNOWSan Francisco sues major food manufacturers for public health harms tied to ultra-processed foodsLawsuit claims companies knowingly engineered addictive p…
It's about heavily processed foods that can make you sick. Californian city wants to compensate for the health costs. Germany relies on volunteering, but gets bad grades in European comparison. What could help.
San Francisco Is Suing Junk Food Giants Over Ultra-Processed Foods
When it comes to the topic of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), it’s one of those scenarios where most observers from either side of the political aisle can largely agree on some broad generalities, like “we probably shouldn’t eat primarily junk food,” or “kids should have access to healthier meals.” Any consensus beyond that, however, instantly evaporates when it comes time to take any form of action, because action requires some kind of consistent…
Blockbuster San Francisco Lawsuit Targets Food Industry Giants Over Ultraprocessed Foods, with Extensive Documentation of Health Damage and Success in Producing Addiction
A case by the San Francisco attorney documents Big Food's use of ultraprocessed food to create addicts in a repeat of the tobacco playbook.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 37% of the sources lean Left, 37% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
