San Francisco Files Landmark Lawsuit Against Food and Beverage Companies

Regulation

In a landmark move, the City of San Francisco has recently filed a lawsuit against ten leading food and beverage manufacturers, including Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, and Coca Cola, over the production and marketing of ultra processed foods and beverages that allegedly harm public health while companies knowingly continue to sell them.

According to the city, the companies’ activity places a significant burden on municipal budgets, which are increasingly being directed toward treating diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

The lawsuit seeks to force these corporations to stop misleading marketing practices, inform consumers about the dangers of ultra processed food and beverages, and pay the city substantial compensation for the costs borne by the municipal healthcare system.

In essence, the lawsuit is similar to past legal actions brought against tobacco companies and manufacturers of addictive drugs.

The U.S. FDA is currently in the midst of defining what qualifies as ultra processed food. Therefore, the lawsuit may ultimately be dismissed, but San Francisco also has an indirect goal, to cast the defendants in a negative light while educating the public to avoid ultra processed food and beverages.

Food Dive, December 3, 2025 | Read more