Major food companies, including Kraft Heinz, Mondelez and Coca-Cola, face a lawsuit filed Tuesday in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, accusing them of designing and marketing “ultra-processed” foods to cause addiction in children, leading to chronic diseases. .
The lawsuit, filed by Pennsylvania resident Bryce Martinez, alleges that consuming the companies’ products caused him to develop type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which he was diagnosed at age 16.
The lawsuit, filed by Morgan & Morgan, is described as the first of its kind and includes additional defendants Post Holdings, PepsiCo, General Mills, Nestlé’s US division, WK Kellogg, Mars, Kelanova and Conagra. The case argues that these companies intentionally designed their products to be addictive, similar to the practices of tobacco companies such as Philip Morris and RJ Reynolds.
Evidence linking ultra-processed foods to chronic health problems has been growing in recent years, with many researchers identifying packaged snacks, sweets, and soft drinks as examples of “ultra-processed” products. These foods often include substances extracted from whole foods or manufactured artificially.
The lawsuit alleges that the companies used strategies from the tobacco industry’s “cigarette playbook” to promote their products, despite knowledge of their potential harm. The allegations include conspiracy, negligence, fraudulent misrepresentation and unfair trade practices. Martinez is seeking punitive damages, but the amount is unspecified.
The case also highlights broader criticism of the food industry and regulatory failures by agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration. Recent comments from public health officials and researchers have pointed to the addictive potential of ultra-processed foods and their association with chronic health issues.