Major Food Companies Face Lawsuit Over Addictive Products

A Pennsylvanian resident filed charges against major food companies for allegedly designing and marketing ultra-processed foods that are addictive and harmful to children.

Bryce Martinez, the plaintiff, filed the lawsuit with the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on Tuesday, accusing companies such as Kraft Heinz, Mondelez, Coca-Cola, Post Holdings, PepsiCo, General Mills, Nestle, WK Kellogg, Mars, Kellanova, and Conagra of marketing what he touted as “ultra-processed” foods to be addictive to children and the major causes of chronic diseases.

According to Martinez, he developed type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease at the age of 16 as a result of consuming the companies’ products.

He claimed that the food companies have long known their products to be allegedly harmful and deliberately designed to be as addictive as possible.

He argued that they were drawing from the same cigarette playbook as tobacco manufacturers Philip Morris and RJ Reynolds, which for a time owned companies that became Kraft Heinz and Mondelez.

The lawsuit included claims for conspiracy, negligence, fraudulent misrepresentation and unfair business practices. It sought an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages.

Martinez’ lawyers at Morgan & Morgan—a major US plaintiffs’ firm, described the case as the first of its kind.

Meanwhile, a representative for Consumer Brands Association (CBA)—a group representing food and beverage manufacturers, said that there is currently no scientific definition of ultra-processed foods.

“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,” said Sarah Gallo, senior vice president of product policy for CBA.

Evidence has grown in recent years that highly processed foods are linked to a wide range of chronic health problems.

Food described by researchers as “ultra-processed” included packaged snack foods, sweets and soft drinks made with substances extracted from whole foods or synthesized artificially.

Incumbent US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf also said that ultra-processed foods are likely addictive.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services, similarly criticized the food industry and the FDA for failing to regulate it.