San Francisco has taken legal action against several big food companies, including Kraft, Mondelez, and Coca-Cola, accusing them of making products that harm people’s health on purpose. The city says these companies create ultra-processed foods designed to be addictive, similar to tactics once used by tobacco companies.
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday by San Francisco’s City Attorney David Chiu in local court. It claims these companies broke California laws by causing public harm and misleading consumers through their marketing. Chiu said the companies helped create a health crisis and made big profits while doing so. Now, the city wants them to take responsibility.
According to the lawsuit, as ultra-processed foods have become more common, cases of obesity, cancer, and diabetes have risen in the city. Heart disease and diabetes, often linked to these kinds of foods, are among the top causes of death in San Francisco. The suit also points out that minority and low-income communities suffer higher rates of these illnesses.
Ultra-processed foods generally include many snacks, sweets, and soft drinks that contain mostly industrial ingredients and additives rather than whole foods. While experts still debate the exact definition, these products are widely recognized as contributing to poor health outcomes.
San Francisco is asking the court for financial penalties to cover healthcare costs. The city also wants an order to stop deceptive marketing and to require the companies to change how they market and make their food.
This lawsuit is the first time a city has gone after food makers on the grounds that they knowingly sell addictive and harmful products. The case is being handled by Morgan & Morgan, a law firm that also represented a plaintiff in Philadelphia with similar claims. That case was dismissed earlier this year because the court found it hard to directly link specific products to the person’s health problems.
Representatives for Kraft, Mondelez, and Coca-Cola did not immediately reply to requests for comment. Meanwhile, the lawsuit adds to a growing conversation about the health impacts of processed foods. In May, a report from the U.S. Health Secretary also highlighted ultra-processed foods as a key factor in increasing chronic illness among children.
San Francisco’s case could set a new example in holding food companies accountable for their role in public health issues.