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Local officials of San Francisco has initiated legal proceedings against ten leading food and beverage companies this week, alleging knowingly marketing ultra-processed products that are associated with a increase in major chronic diseases.

Local government lawyers argue that the companies' tactics resemble those once used by the cigarette manufacturers. They claim that municipalities are now forced to bear the substantial medical expenses linked to these food items.

Firms Cited in the Legal Complaint

Corporations including Mondelez and Coca-Cola are accused of intentionally promoted addictive and harmful products in violation of state laws concerning unfair competition and unfair competition, as stated in the filed complaint.

Kraft and the other named companies did not issue a prompt comment to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit.

Range of Goods and Official Stance

The items in question range from biscuits and candies to breakfast foods and snack bars.

"These corporations created a public health crisis, they profited greatly, and now they must be held accountable for the damage they have caused," said the city's top lawyer the City Attorney in a released statement.

Trade Group Response

Sarah Gallo, senior vice president of product policy at the Consumer Brands Association, stated that an "agreed upon scientific definition" of ultra-processed foods is not established.

"Attempting to classify foods as unhealthy merely due to being processed, or demonizing food by ignoring its full nutrient content, misleads consumers and exacerbates health disparities," she added.

Manufacturers, she added, are rolling out new products with higher protein and fiber, reduced sugar and salt and free from artificial coloring.

Basis of the Lawsuit

The legal action, submitted in a local court and one of the first of its type, argues that the increasing prevalence of ultra-processed foods has occurred alongside a "sharp rise" in obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular illness, cancer and other chronic illnesses.

"This lawsuit is about food products with concealed health risks," the filing states.

The city is seeking financial damages and a statewide order forcing the food giants to change their "misleading" marketing tactics.

Wider Political Landscape

Worry about highly manufactured food has emerged as an area of consensus among some progressive politicians and the current administration, even as they remain divided on different policies.

Earlier this year, the federal health chief stated that the United States would, for example, prohibit several commonly used artificial food dyes.

The top health official and his associated movement have also called for companies to eliminate ingredients such as corn syrup, vegetable oils and artificial dyes from their offerings, linking them to medical issues.

Some food companies have announced changes to their products in recent months. A leading soda company this summer agreed to use real cane sugar in its drinks sold in the United States.

Legal Precedent

This legal action is the initial brought by a public authority over food companies' intentional promotion of ultra-processed foods.

But recently, a court in another state threw out a separate complaint filed by an individual who alleged ultra-processed foods contributed to his health diagnoses.