San Francisco’s lawsuit against food companies

San Francisco’s city attorney has sued major food companies for marketing ultra-processed foods (UPF) that make people sick.

The lawsuit: COMPLAINT FOR: VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA UNFAIR COMPETITION LAW AND PUBLIC NUISANCE

The arguments

I. UPF are dangerous: “No reason exists to believe that humans can fully adapt to these products.”

II.  UPF-like tobacco and illegal drugs–are addictive.

• UPF cause compulsive use in the same ways as other addictive substances
• UPF are psychoactive substances
• UPF are reinforcing

III. Defendants designed UPF to be addictive to drive sales and profits.

IV. Defendants have created a public health crisis, especially for children.

V.  Defendants have deliberately targeted kids (harmful dyes, aggressive marketing, disproportionate targeting).

VI.  Defendants actively conceal the dangers of UPF.

VII.  UPF have contributed to a public health crisis in San Francisco.

This one will be fun to watch,

Resources

• Press conference: City attorney announces legal action
• State of California complaint
• San Francisco City Attorney’s Office: Chiu sues largest manufacturers of ultraprocessed foods
• New York Times: San Francisco will sue ultraprocessed food companies
• Civil Eats: MAHA figure touts San Francisco laawsuit against food companies