The city of San Francisco has filed a lawsuit against ten major food manufacturers, accusing them of knowingly selling ultra-processed products linked to serious health issues. This historic lawsuit was filed in the San Francisco Superior Court. It’s the first time I’m aware of that a government entity has sued for the purposes of holding accountable an often intentional marketing of these foods.
The lawsuit highlights a troubling trend: the increasing availability of ultra-processed foods has coincided with a dramatic rise in obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and other chronic illnesses. San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu emphasized the responsibility of these companies in contributing to this public health crisis, stating, “These companies engineered a public health crisis, they profited handsomely, and now they need to take responsibility for the harm they have caused.”
In tandem with this legal action, U.S. Health Secretary has been advocating for reform through his “Make America Healthy Again” movement. The campaign calls on the food industry to act. They need to stop using toxic ingredients such as corn syrup, seed oils, and artificial dyes in their foods. Earlier this month, the FDA proposed a ban on eight widely used artificial food colorings. This decision makes clear their commitment to doing what’s best for public health.
Consumer Brands Association senior vice president of product policy Sarah Gallo, responding on behalf of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit explained that, She brought up pressing questions about how we define and categorize foods. She noted, “Attempting to classify foods as unhealthy simply because they are processed, or demonizing food by ignoring its full nutrient content, misleads consumers and exacerbates health disparities.” Gallo’s comments illustrate the long-standing and oftentimes contentious conversation between food processing and public health.
The legal landscape when it comes to regulation of ultra-processed foods is pretty complicated. In Pennsylvania, a judge recently threw out a First Amendment complaint filed by an anti-abortion individual. The man claimed that ultra-processed foods were responsible for his type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease diagnoses. This ruling reveals the uphill battle that individuals must pursue to hold food manufacturers responsible for health-related claims.
The science behind nutrition and health is an ongoing conversation. If San Francisco’s lawsuit is successful, it will lay the groundwork for numerous other actions against food companies. The city is making a bold move to target the misleading marketing practices of these industry titans. This bold action hopes to address what it sees as an American public health epidemic on the rise.