San Francisco Sues Coca-Cola and PepsiCo over Cancer and Diabetes.

According to ТСН: The city of San Francisco in the USA has filed a lawsuit against several well-known food industry companies, including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Mars, and Kraft Heinz. Authorities accuse these companies of negatively impacting public health by selling ultra-processed products that contain high levels of sugar, salt, and additives that can increase the risk of cancer and diabetes.

The lawsuit, initiated by District Attorney David Chiu, draws parallels with legal actions against the tobacco industry in the 1990s.

Among the main defendants are Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, Mondelēz, WK Kellogg, and Mars. San Francisco relies on studies and warnings from the World Health Organization (WHO), published in the medical journal The Lancet.

The lawsuit states that ultra-processed products may increase the risk of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, and also accuses the companies of producing addictive products.

San Francisco demands financial compensation from the food corporations for the harm caused, as well as the introduction of certain restrictions:

• The city seeks financial compensation for the health crisis caused. It is worth noting that in the 1990s, San Francisco won a compensation of 539 million dollars from the tobacco industry.

• A ban on the advertising of these products is also required, as the city considers them 'deceptive.'

Response from the Food Industry

The trade association representing the interests of these companies has already rejected the accusations:

The Consumer Brands Association claims that there is no single scientific definition of ultra-processed products. They believe that labeling products as harmful solely due to their processing could mislead consumers.

The initiated lawsuit from San Francisco marks another step in the fight against the spread of harmful products, confirming the growing public awareness of the impact of nutrition on health. For many experts, it is important that such cases encourage real changes in advertising policies and food production.