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Town of San Francisco is suing 10 main meals producers — together with Kraft Heinz and Coca-Cola — accusing them of knowingly fueling a public well being disaster with ultra-processed meals.
Metropolis Lawyer David Chiu filed the lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Courtroom on Tuesday, arguing that ultra-processed meals are linked to ailments corresponding to Kind 2 diabetes, fatty liver illness and most cancers.
The opposite firms named within the lawsuit are PepsiCo, Publish Holdings, Mondelez Worldwide, Basic Mills, Nestle USA, Kellogg, Mars Included and ConAgra Manufacturers.
‘ADDICTIVE’ ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS LINKED TO SPIKE IN CHRONIC DISEASE, RESEARCHERS WARN
Bottles of Coca-Cola are displayed on a shelf in a grocery store Oct. 29, 2024. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Picture / Reuters Pictures)
The lawsuit alleges the businesses used techniques much like the tobacco trade, designing and advertising and marketing merchandise to addict shoppers. It accuses the producers of violating California legal guidelines on public nuisance and misleading advertising and marketing.
As ultra-processed meals have unfold, charges of weight problems, most cancers and diabetes have climbed, the swimsuit claims. Chiu’s workplace notes that coronary heart illness and diabetes — each linked to ultra-processed meals — are amongst San Francisco’s main causes of demise, with greater charges in minority and low-income communities.
Mondelez Worldwide’s Oreo biscuits are seen on this illustration image taken July 26, 2021. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Picture / Reuters Pictures)
FOX Enterprise reached out to all 10 firms named within the lawsuit however didn’t instantly hear again.
SPIKE IN DEADLY CANCER BEFORE 50 LINKED TO COMMON CONVENIENCE FOODS
Sarah Gallo, senior vice chairman of product coverage for the Shopper Manufacturers Affiliation, which represents most of the firms, advised Reuters in an announcement that there “is currently no agreed upon scientific definition of ultraprocessed foods and attempting to classify foods as unhealthy simply because they are processed, or demonizing food by ignoring its full nutrient content, misleads consumers and exacerbates health disparities.”
Packets of M&M’s goodies are seen on the manufacturing line of sweet and chocolate maker Mars Chocolate France’s plant in Haguenau, japanese France, Dec. 13, 2011. (Reuters/Vincent Kessler / Reuters Pictures)
San Francisco’s lawsuit cites a number of scientific research linking ultra-processed meals to dangerous well being results.
Kellogg’s Raisin Bran and Corn Flakes cereal is displayed at a grocery retailer in Encinitas, California, on July 10, 2025. (Reuters/Mike Blake / Reuters Pictures)
FOR THE FIRST TIME, THERE ARE MORE CHILDREN IN THE WORLD WHO ARE OBESE THAN UNDERWEIGHT
A Might report from U.S. Well being Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. mentioned the Trump administration had recognized ultra-processed meals as a driver of continual sickness in American youngsters.
In August, the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention discovered nearly all of Individuals get greater than half of their every day energy from ultra-processed meals, with hamburgers and sandwiches, candy bakery merchandise, savory snacks, pizza and sweetened drinks being among the many prime sources.
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San Francisco’s case is the primary municipal lawsuit claiming meals firms knowingly marketed addictive and dangerous ultra-processed meals.
Town seeks restitution and civil penalties to offset healthcare prices, together with a courtroom order barring misleading advertising and marketing and forcing the businesses to vary their practices.