USA: San Francisco sues large food companies over health impacts of ultra-processed foods
“San Francisco sues food giants over ultra-processed products”, 3 December 2025
San Francisco filed the nation’s first government lawsuit against food manufacturers over ultra-processed foods (UPFs) on Tuesday, arguing that local governments have been shouldering the costs of treating diseases that stem from public consumption of the companies’ products.
The city’s attorney, David Chiu, sued 10 corporations that create some of the country’s most popular food and drinks…
The world’s largest review, published last month, found that UPFs are linked to harm in every major organ system of the human body and pose a seismic threat to global health. They are associated with an increased risk of a dozen health conditions, including cancer, obesity, type 2 diabetes, depression, heart disease and cognitive decline…
Chiu’s lawsuit, filed in San Francisco superior court on behalf of the state of California, will seek unspecified damages for the costs that cities and counties bear for treating residents whose health has been harmed by ultra-processed food.
San Francisco accuses the companies of “unfair and deceptive acts” in how they market and sell their foods, arguing that such practices violate the state’s unfair competition law and public nuisance statute. It also argues the companies knew that their food made people sick but sold it anyway…
The defendants in the lawsuit include the Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz Company, Post Holdings and Mondelez International. It also names General Mills; Nestlé USA; Kellogg; Mars Incorporated; and ConAgra Brands…