If your child was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes and/or Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease after routinely eating ultra-processed foods, you may be entitled to recover compensation from an ultra-processed food lawsuit case or settlement claim.
A team of product injury attorneys and class action lawyers is investigating potential lawsuit cases and settlement claims of parents and families whose children who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and/or fatty liver disease after routinely consuming ultra-processed foods.
Ultra-processed foods (UPF) are industrially produced foods made from substances extracted (fractioned) from whole foods or made in a lab, that are chemically modified (e.g., through hydrolysis or hydrogenation), combined with additives (such as colors, flavors, emulsifiers and preservatives), and reassembled using extensive industrial techniques and processes, often requiring sophisticated equipment and technology, such as molding, extrusion and pressurization or pre-frying.
Ultra-processed foods make up more than half of the total dietary energy consumed in the United States. Unfortunately, ultra-processed foods may be linked to long term health issues in children, including a potential increased risk for the development of Type II diabetes and fatty liver disease in children. Indeed, the rates of Type II diabetes and fatty liver disease in children have roughly doubled since 2001.
Ultra-Processed Food Lawsuit: Table Of Contents
- What Is The Ultra-Processed Food Lawsuit About?
- What Is Ultra-Processed Food?
- Who May Qualify For an Ultra-Processed Food Lawsuit Case?
- Are Children At Risk Of Injury From Ultra Processed Foods?
- What Health Issues May Be Linked to Ultra Processed Food?
- What Companies Are Being Sued Over Ultra-Processed Foods?
- Can I Recover Compensation From a Processed Food Lawsuit?
- Is There A Time Limit To Filing a Processed Food Lawsuit?
- Request A Free Case Review From A Food Injury Lawyer
Ultra-Processed Food Lawsuits & Settlements: Childhood Type 2 Diabetes/Fatty Liver Disease
Ultra-processed food lawsuit and settlement cases potentially being investigated include claims involving children who, after routinely consuming ultra-processed foods as children and while under the age of 18, were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and/or fatty liver disease:
- Childhood Type II Diabetes lawsuit
- Childhood Fatty Liver Disease lawsuit
- Other Ultra-Processed Food lawsuits
If your child developed type 2 diabetes and/or fatty liver disease after regularly eating ultra-processed food, you may be eligible to seek compensation from an ultra-processed food lawsuit or settlement case.
Ultra-Processed Food Lawsuit Injury Cases
In December of 2024 a lawsuit was filed against various companies alleging, among other things, that they designed, manufactured, packaged, labeled, marketed, sold and/or distributed ultra-processed foods and that they had long been aware of the possible health risks of consuming ultra-processed food but failed to warn children that ultra-processed food was potentially harmful and could lead to injuries.
According to the complaint, scientific studies have found that consuming ultra-processed foods significantly increases risks of Type 2 Diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, among other serious chronic illnesses.
The ultra-processed food lawsuit complaint also alleges that Defendants targeted children in marketing their products (using kid toys, cartoon characters and other child-related branding and features) but did not disclose that they had not tested the safety of chronic exposures to ultra-processed food, that ultra-processed food can cause unique health risks independent of macronutrient content, that they are potentially addictive or that such processed foods are engineered to be overconsumed.
The ultra-processed food lawsuit further alleges that Plaintiff regularly, frequently, and chronically ingested ultra-processed foods from Defendants and suffered injuries as a result of his childhood exposure to ultra-processed foods, including having been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease as a child.
The ultra-processed food lawsuit asserts legal claims for negligence, failure to warn, breach of implied and express warranty, fraudulent misrepresentation and concealment, violation of unfair trade practices and consumer protection law, and unjust enrichment, among others.
Children at Risk of Ultra-Processed Food Injury
Children who may be at risk of injury due to ultra-processed foods include those who routinely consumed ultra-processed foods, including:
- Sugary beverages (e.g., energy drinks, sodas)
- Packaged sweet snacks (e.g., cookies, candy bars)
- Packaged savory snacks (e.g., chips, crackers)
- Packaged breads and buns
- Processed meats (packaged ham, sausage, hot dogs, etc.)
- Breakfast cereals and breakfast bars
- Frozen ready-to-eat meals (pizza, breakfast, waffles, pancakes)
- Packaged desserts (chocolates, candies, ice cream, cakes)
- Canned and instant soups and noodles (ramen, mac & cheese, etc.)
- Fast food (burgers, fries, nuggets)
- Other ultra-processed food injury claims
Ultra-processed foods can often contain high levels of sugars, unhealthy fats, sodium and additives (such as colors, flavors, flavor enhancers, mulsifiers, emulsifying salts, artificial sweeteners, thickeners, and foaming, anti-foaming, bulking, carbonating, gelling, and glazing agents).
Ultra-processed foods often contain ingredients that have no or rare culinary use such as fructose, high fructose corn syrup, ‘fruit juice concentrates’, invert sugar, matlodextrin, dextrose, lactose, hydrogenated or interesterfied oils, hydrolysed proteins, soya protein isolate, gluten, casein, whey protein, and ‘mechanically separated meat.’ One way to help identify ultra-processed foods is to see if its list of ingredients contains substances that are never or rarely used in kitchens.
Companies Sued Over Ultra-Processed Food
Ultra-processed food lawsuits are being filed against various companies who may manufacturer, supply and/or sell ultra-processed foods. Defendants have included:
- Kraft Heinz Company, Inc.
- Mondelēz International, Inc.
- The Coca-Cola Company
- PepsiCo, Inc.
- General Mills, Inc.
- Nestlé USA, Inc.
- Kellogg’s
- Mars Incorporated, Inc.
- Conagra Brands, Inc.
- Post Holdings, Inc.
Ultra-processed foods are highly profitable products in that they typically contain low-cost ingredients, have a long shelf-life, can be easily branded, are hyper-palatable and may potentially be addictive.
Compensation For Ultra-Processed Food Injury
Plaintiffs who bring ultra-processed food lawsuits may be able to recover compensation for their injuries, including money damages relating to their having developed diabetes and/or fatty liver disease, such as:
- Compensatory damages for pain and suffering
- Loss of wages or earnings due to missed work
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Medical care expenses incurred or to be incurred
- Other out of pocket expenses
- Loss of quality or enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish/emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Other possible monetary damages
Time Is Limited To File A Processed Food Lawsuit
Deadlines called statutes of limitation and statutes of repose may limit the time that families have to file a lawsuit to try to recover compensation for injuries such as type two diabetes or fatty liver disease potentially caused by the routine consumption of ultra-processed food.
This means that if an ultra-processed food lawsuit case is not filed before the applicable deadline, the claimant may be barred from ever pursuing litigation or taking legal action regarding the ultra-processed food injury claim. That is why it is important to connect with an ultra-processed food injury lawyer or attorney as soon as possible.
If your child was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and/or Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease after regularly consuming ultra-processed foods, you may be entitled to recover money damages from an ultra-processed food lawsuit case or settlement claim. Contact an injury lawyer to request a free case review.
*If you or a loved one are experiencing health issues, side effects or complications from a product/service, we urge you to promptly consult with your doctor or physician for an evaluation.
**The listing of a company (e.g., Kraft Heinz Company, Inc., Mondelēz International, Inc., The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Inc., General Mills, Inc., Nestlé USA, Inc., Kellogg’s, Mars Incorporated, Inc., Conagra Brands, Inc., Post Holdings, Inc., etc.) or product is not meant to state or imply that the company acted illegally or improperly or that the product/service is unsafe or defective; rather only that an investigation may be, is or was being conducted to determine whether legal rights have been violated.
***The use of any trademarks, tradenames or service marks is solely for product/service identification and/or informational purposes.
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