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San Francisco initiated legal action Tuesday against ten major food manufacturers regarding their ultra-processed products, alleging the industry’s leading companies knowingly market foods linked to an increase in serious health conditions.
City officials contend that the companies’ strategies are reminiscent of those employed by the tobacco industry, asserting that local governments are bearing the burden of public healthcare expenses.
The complaint alleges that firms, including Kraft Heinz, Mondelez, and Coca-Cola, have intentionally marketed addictive and unhealthy products in violation of California’s public nuisance and unfair competition laws.
As of yet, Kraft, Mondelez, and the other companies named as defendants have not issued any comments on the matter.
The products in question range from cookies and sweets to cereals and granola bars.
“These corporations have instigated a public health crisis, profited handsomely, and now must be held accountable for the resulting harm,” stated San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu in a released statement.
Sarah Gallo, Senior Vice President of Product Policy at the Consumer Brands Association, a trade group, stated that there is no “agreed upon scientific definition” of ultra-processed foods.
“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,” Ms Gallo noted in a statement.
She added that food and beverage manufacturers are actively introducing new products that incorporate higher protein and fibre content, reduced sugar and sodium levels, and the exclusion of synthetic colour additives.
The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court and regarded as one of the first of its kind, asserts that the increased availability of ultra-processed foods has coincided with a “dramatic increase” in obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancers, and other chronic illnesses.
“This case concerns food products with concealed health risks,” the complaint states unequivocally.
San Francisco seeks monetary penalties and a statewide order compelling the food giants to revise their allegedly “deceptive” marketing practices.
Concerns about ultra-processed foods have emerged as a point of agreement among some officials and the Trump administration, even as divisions remain on Robert F Kennedy Jr’s other positions, including his scepticism of vaccines.
In April, Kennedy announced that the US would, for example, ban eight commonly used artificial food dyes.
The US health secretary and his Make America Healthy Again movement have also called for companies to remove ingredients such as corn syrup, seed oils and artificial dyes from their products, linking them to health problems.
Since Trump’s return to the White House, some food companies have announced changes to their products. Coca-Cola this summer agreed to use real cane sugar in its drinks sold in the US.
San Francisco’s lawsuit represents the first legal challenge initiated by a government entity against food companies, concerning the intentional marketing of ultra-processed foods.
In contrast, earlier this year, a judge in Pennsylvania dismissed a separate complaint brought by an individual alleging that ultra-processed foods contributed to his diagnoses of diabetes and liver disease.
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