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San Francisco Takes On Big Food: Lawsuit Alleges Deceptive Practices and Public Health Crisis
San Francisco officials are making waves, claiming that some of the nation’s most recognizable food brands are peddling ultra-processed foods that are not only unhealthy but also marketed deceptively. This bold assertion comes as the city has filed a civil lawsuit against ten of the country’s largest food companies.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in San Francisco County Superior Court, accuses these companies of knowingly contributing to a healthcare crisis. San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu, who filed the suit on behalf of the city, drew a stark parallel to the tobacco industry during a Tuesday news conference. “Like the tobacco industry, they knew their products made people very sick but hid the truth from the public, profited from untold billions and left Americans to deal with the consequences,” Chiu stated.
Chiu highlighted the severe health consequences he attributes to the foods produced by the ten defendant companies, citing links to cancer, type 2 diabetes, and depression, among other conditions. In a news release issued the same day, he further accused the companies of “engineering and marketing” these ultra-processed foods, which he believes have created a widespread public health emergency. “They took food and made it unrecognizable and harmful to the human body,” Chiu emphasized, adding, “Americans want to avoid ultra-processed foods, but we are inundated by them.”
The lawsuit names a roster of major players in the food industry, including Kraft Heinz Co., The Coca-Cola Co., PepsiCo, General Mills, Post Holdings, Mondelez International, Nestle USA, ConAgra Brands, Mars Inc., and the Kellogg Co. Chiu asserted that these companies have “profited handsomely, and how they need to take responsibility for the harm they have caused.”
Ultra-processed foods are defined as those containing chemical additives with little nutritional value and virtually no use as food beyond their role in processing. This category encompasses a wide array of common products, such as many brands of potato chips, breakfast cereals, sodas, candies, processed meats, cheese, and boxed macaroni.
The city’s legal action is supported by existing research. A 2024 study indicated a slightly higher risk of premature death for individuals consuming large quantities of ultra-processed foods. Furthermore, a study conducted five years prior suggested that every 10% increase in ultra-processed food consumption correlates with a 14% greater risk of premature death.