An array of scientific studies have linked ultra processed foods (UPFs) to increased rates of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic conditions. Prior to the mass production of UPFs in the 1980s, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes were rarely seen in the youth population. Now, rates of type 2 diabetes are surging and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease diagnoses have more than doubled in children in 20 years.
Investigations have also linked the production of UPFs to the arrival of Big Tobacco companies (and Big Tobacco tactics) in the manufactured food industry. When several large food manufacturers (Kraft, General Foods, and Nabisco) were taken over by Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds in the 1980s, the new leadership applied everything they knew about making tobacco products addictive and attractive to the food industry. As a result, foods were manufactured to be hyperpalatable, containing potent combinations of fat, sodium, sugar and other additives that can drive people to crave and overeat them, and were marketed aggressively toward children.
The attorneys at Morris James are preparing lawsuits against the manufacturers who knowingly produced harmful UPFs and marketed them to the most vulnerable in our society in order to maximize their own profits. We are seeking compensation for the children and young adults who are suffering with chronic disease as a result of UPFs.
If you were raised in America (or any other developed country), you have almost certainly eaten ultra processed foods. They now make up approximately 60% of the calories in the U.S. diet.
Ultra processed foods are industrially formulated food products that are made mostly or entirely from substances extracted from foods (like oils, fats, sugar, starch, proteins), derived from food constituents (like hydrogenated fats or modified starch), or synthesized in laboratories (like flavor enhancers, artificial colors, emulsifiers). They typically contain little or none of the whole foods in their natural state and often include many additives to improve taste, texture, and shelf life. Common examples include sugary sodas, packaged snacks, instant noodles, reconstituted meat products like chicken nuggets, and mass-produced breads. They are designed to be convenient, hyper-palatable, appealing, and highly profitable for the manufacturer.
Major manufacturers such as Kraft Heinz, Mondelez International, PepsiCo, The Coca-Cola Company, Nestlé, Mars, General Mills, Conagra Brands, Post Holdings, Kellanova, and WK Kellogg Co. have been named in the UPF litigation. Some of the UPFs they manufacture include:
Lunchables, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Oreo cookies, Doritos, Coca-Cola, Mountain Dew, Hot Pockets, Snickers, Lucky Charms, Pop-Tarts, Pringles, Eggo Waffles, Frosted Flakes, and a wide range of other packaged snacks, cereals, sodas, and frozen meals.
These familiar favorites show just how common ultra processed foods are in kids’ lunches, snacks, and meals.
UPFs can fundamentally reshape how the body and brain function, especially in young people. Packed with concentrated sugars, refined starches, and industrial additives, these products can spike blood glucose repeatedly throughout the day, straining the pancreas and fueling the progression of type 2 diabetes. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease develops as the excess calories and altered fat metabolism from these foods cause the liver to accumulate fat and become inflamed over time.
What makes UPFs particularly concerning is their engineered addictiveness. Food manufacturers use combinations of sugar, salt, fat, and chemical additives to create flavors and textures that trigger powerful reward responses in the brain, encouraging people, especially children, to crave and overeat them. Internal industry documents and marketing strategies have demonstrated that major companies are fully aware of these effects, yet have continued to develop and promote products designed to be as enticing and habit-forming as possible. This knowledge forms a key part of the growing legal arguments that manufacturers should be held liable for knowingly putting profits over public health.
You only have a limited time to file a claim. These deadlines, called statutes of limitations, can be as short as one or two years from when you learn about your child’s diagnosis. Acting quickly protects your rights and helps preserve important evidence.
We offer a free initial consultation and we take cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you never pay upfront or out of pocket and we only get paid if we recover money for you. This ensures that you can get trusted legal help without any financial risk.
These cases are complex. Food companies have teams of lawyers and public relations experts. We help level the playing field. Our attorneys work closely with medical experts and researchers, manage all paperwork and filings, and represent your interests from start to finish, whether in settlement or trial.
If you or your child has been diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, or a related serious medical condition after years of eating ultra processed foods, you may be eligible to file a UPF lawsuit for compensation.
To find out more about your eligibility and compensation, schedule a free consultation with our UPF litigation attorneys. We’ll help you establish three key things: that you consumed the products over time, that you were diagnosed with a related condition, and that the food company acted negligently or failed to warn you of the risks. Our team will handle everything from the investigation and evidence gathering to settlement negotiations and, if necessary, trial, but we will not charge you anything unless we win.
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