The city of San Francisco — led by David Chiu — filed a groundbreaking lawsuit on December 2, 2025 against ten major food and beverage corporations, including Kraft Heinz Company, Mondelez International, Coca‑Cola Company, PepsiCo, Nestlé USA, General Mills, and others — accusing them of knowingly manufacturing, marketing, and selling ultra-processed foods (UPFs) that pose serious health risks.
The lawsuit claims these companies engineered foods — such as sugary cereals, salty snacks, sodas, boxed meals, processed meats, and other packaged items — to be cheap, addictive, and appealing, even though their nutritional profile is poor and they are linked to chronic diseases. According to the complaint, these products have contributed to rising rates of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, cancer, and other health conditions.
San Francisco argues that the manufacturers’ marketing and distribution practices — especially targeting children, low-income people, and communities of color — amount to a public health hazard and violate California’s unfair competition law and nuisance statutes. The city is seeking civil penalties, a ban on deceptive advertising, and demands changes that would require companies to transform their marketing practices and compensate for healthcare costs associated with UPF-related diseases.
Public health advocates say this lawsuit could mark a major shift, potentially holding food companies legally responsible for health outcomes tied to diet — similar to past litigation against tobacco firms. Meanwhile, industry groups have pushed back, arguing that the scientific definition of ultra-processed foods is still debated, and that such lawsuits may oversimplify the causes of chronic disease. Regardless, the case may set a powerful precedent for governments seeking accountability from food manufacturers.
