San Francisco took legal action on Tuesday against several leading food and beverage companies, including Coca-Cola and Nestlé, claiming that their ultra processed products are fueling a growing public health crisis in the city. The lawsuit alleges that these products contribute to chronic illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, putting strain on local healthcare systems and endangering residents’ well-being.
City Attorney David Chiu identified 10 companies in the lawsuit, highlighting makers of well-known products such as Oreo cookies, Sour Patch Kids, Kit Kat, Cheerios and Lunchables. The legal action claims that ultra processed foods from these companies are connected to serious health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease and cancer, and places responsibility on manufacturers for their role in the public health crisis.
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“They took food and made it unrecognizable and harmful to the human body,” Chiu said in a news release. “These companies engineered a public health crisis, they profited handsomely, and now they need to take responsibility for the harm they have caused.”
According to Chiu’s office, ultra processed foods cover items like candy, chips, processed meats, sodas, energy drinks, and breakfast cereals. These products are specifically designed to “stimulate cravings and encourage overconsumption,” the release said, underscoring the city’s concern over their impact on public health.
The foods are “formulations of often chemically manipulated cheap ingredients with little if any whole food added,” Chiu wrote in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit also targets other major food and beverage companies, including PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, Post Holdings, Mondelez International, General Mills, Kellogg, Mars Incorporated, and ConAgra Brands.