Name: San Francisco sues ultra-processed food makers
Uploaded: 2025-12-03T02:17:25.286Z
Duration: 2 min 4 s
Description: In San Francisco on Tuesday, city attorney David Chiu announced the first government lawsuit of its kind against 11 companies that manufacture ultra-processed foods.

In San Francisco on Tuesday, city attorney David Chiu announced the first government lawsuit of its kind against 11 companies that manufacture ultra-processed foods.

San Francisco

San Francisco has filed a lawsuit against 11 companies that manufacture ultra-processed foods, including major brands such as Kellogg and Coca-Cola. The city alleges that these companies use unfair and deceptive marketing practices to sell products that are unhealthy and potentially addictive, contributing to diseases that burden public health systems.

City Attorney David Chu announced that this is the first government lawsuit of its kind, citing research linking ultra-processed foods to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. The companies' trade group disputes the claims, arguing there is no agreed-upon scientific definition of ultra-processed foods. San Francisco has a history of successful lawsuits against large industries, including tobacco and opioid manufacturers.

San Francisco sues ultra-processed food makers

Progressive San Francisco finds itself in sync tonight with Trump health secretary Robert F Kennedy jr. in their opposition to ultra-processed foods. The city today sued the makers of those foods claiming they're unhealthy and that the cost of treating diseases they allegedly cause is a burden on the government. Ultra-processed foods usually contain one or more ingredients not generally found in a kitchen like chemical-based preservatives. Elizabeth Cook is in San Francisco. They're on nearly every shelf in nearly every grocery store across the country. Ultra-processed foods now make up over 50% of the American diet. Our case is about companies who design food to be harmful and addictive. In San Francisco today City Attorney David Chu announced the first government lawsuit of its kind against 11 companies that manufacture ultra-processed foods including breakfast Titan Kellogg and beverage maker Coca-Cola accusing them of using unfair and deceptive marketing to sell food. We've known for a long time that the ingredients in many of these ultra-processed foods are unhealthy. Why now? We have all suspected for a long time that food that is not food were likely not good for us but it took many years for the science to catch it. Research has linked ultra-processed foods to obesity, type 2 diabetes and cancer. In a statement a trade group representing many of the companies named in the lawsuit said there is currently no agreed-upon scientific definition of ultra-processed foods and that calling them unhealthy is misleading to consumers. There's a clear definition in California law on what ultra-processed foods are. We look forward to having that discussion in court. And San Francisco has a history of taking on big business. They previously sued and won multi-million dollar lawsuits against big tobacco, lead paint and opioid manufacturers. Elizabeth Cook thanks so much.

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