City alleges deceptive tactics similar to tobacco firms
The city of San Francisco has filed a lawsuit against major food corporations including Kraft Heinz, Mondelez, and Coca-Cola, accusing them of knowingly selling harmful and addictive ultra-processed foods. The civil complaint, submitted by City Attorney David Chiu, claims the companies engineered products intended to create dependence while disguising the health dangers involved.
According to the lawsuit, these tactics resemble long-criticized strategies used by tobacco companies, including targeted marketing and product design aimed at increasing consumption despite known risks. The legal filing cites violations of California public nuisance and deceptive marketing laws.
Public health concerns escalate across communities
The city argues that the rapid growth of ultra-processed foods has accelerated rates of obesity, cancer, and diabetes statewide. Chiu’s office notes that heart disease and diabetes remain leading causes of death in San Francisco, disproportionately impacting low-income and minority residents.
Industry groups pushed back. Sarah Gallo of the Consumer Brands Association said there is “no agreed upon scientific definition” of what qualifies as ultra-processed and warned that labeling processed foods as inherently harmful could mislead consumers and widen health inequities.
Legal first may trigger industry-wide scrutiny
The complaint seeks restitution and civil penalties to cover the city’s healthcare spending, in addition to changes in how food products are labeled and marketed. Experts say the move represents the first time a municipality has argued that manufacturers knowingly marketed addictive ultra-processed foods and should be held accountable for resulting health costs.
San Francisco has hired the law firm Morgan and Morgan to support its case. The firm previously represented a Philadelphia plaintiff who alleged his diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease stemmed from consuming these products as a teenager. Although that case was dismissed due to insufficient product-specific evidence, attorneys have requested reconsideration.
Federal spotlight intensifies nutrition debate
The lawsuit follows a recent report by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which tied ultra-processed foods to chronic disease spikes among American children. Researchers broadly associate the category with packaged snacks, soft drinks, sweets, chemical additives, and industrial processing that minimizes whole-food content.
The legal challenge adds pressure to food companies already facing public scrutiny over nutrition policies. If successful, the case could reshape how packaged foods are formulated and marketed across the United States.
