Ultra-processed foods make up more than half of the average American adult’s diet and nearly two-thirds of what children eat. These are not simply “junk food”—they are industrially manufactured products engineered for maximum taste appeal, long shelf life, and repeat consumption. Emerging scientific evidence and new litigation allege that the companies behind these products designed them to be addictive, marketed them aggressively to children, and concealed what they knew about the health consequences. If this sounds familiar, it should—the parallels to the tobacco industry are striking.

What Are Ultra-Processed Foods

Ultra-processed foods are products that have been industrially formulated from substances derived from foods and additives. They include sugary cereals and snack bars, packaged cookies, chips, and crackers, soft drinks and sweetened beverages, frozen meals and instant noodles, processed meats and fast food items, and flavored yogurts and ice cream products. These products typically contain combinations of sugar, salt, fat, and chemical additives calibrated to hit what food scientists call the “bliss point”—the precise formulation that maximizes craving and consumption.

Health Consequences

A landmark 2024 study published in the British Medical Journal linked ultra-processed food consumption to more than 30 health conditions, including type 2 diabetes in both children and adults, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease and hypertension, obesity and metabolic syndrome, colorectal cancer, and depression and mental health disorders. The relationship is dose-dependent: the more ultra-processed food a person consumes, the higher the risk. For children, whose bodies and brains are still developing, the consequences can be especially severe and long-lasting.

Current Litigation

This is an emerging area of law. In December 2025, the City of San Francisco filed the first government lawsuit against 10 major food manufacturers—including Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, General Mills, Kellogg, Mars, and ConAgra—alleging unfair, fraudulent, and deceptive marketing practices. The lawsuit seeks restitution, civil penalties, and marketing restrictions.

Private claims are also being developed, though an initial lawsuit was dismissed in August 2025 for insufficient evidence linking specific products to an individual’s disease. Legal experts expect the litigation to evolve significantly as scientific evidence strengthens and regulatory attention increases. California’s aggressive consumer protection framework makes it a leading jurisdiction for these cases.

What This Means Going Forward

The ultra-processed food litigation is in its early stages, but the trajectory mirrors other successful public health litigations. Tobacco companies were once considered untouchable. So were opioid manufacturers. As the scientific evidence linking ultra-processed foods to chronic disease continues to build, and as internal industry documents come to light through litigation, the legal landscape is likely to shift. For individuals and families already dealing with the health consequences of these products, monitoring this litigation and consulting with an attorney may be worthwhile.

The food industry has enormous power, but accountability is not impossible. If you or your child has suffered serious health consequences linked to ultra-processed food consumption, Beverly Wilshire Law APC can help you understand whether emerging legal options may apply to your situation. Call (310) 424-5566 or email info@bevwilshire.com—we’re here to guide you in the right direction.