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The complaint alleges ultraprocessed foods are addictive and unhealthy

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• San Francisco files a first-of-its-kind lawsuit accusing major food manufacturers of misleading consumers about the risks of ultraprocessed foods

• The city argues that companies intentionally formulate products to be addictive while marketing them as healthy or convenient

• Public health officials say ultraprocessed foods now represent a major driver of chronic disease and rising healthcare costs

The City of San Francisco has filed a lawsuit against several of the countrys largest food manufacturers, alleging that the companies knowingly design ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) to be addictive while deceptively presenting them as wholesome, safe, or part of a balanced diet.

Filed this week in San Francisco Superior Court, the suit targets multinational producers whose packaged snacks, sweetened beverages, cereals, frozen meals, and convenience foods are widely available on U.S. grocery shelves. The complaint argues that these companies have systematically misled consumers for decades about the health effects of UPFsproducts typically high in refined carbohydrates, industrial oils, salt, and additives formulated to enhance shelf life and intensify flavor.

Taking a page from the tobacco litigation playbook

City Attorney David Chiu compared the lawsuit to the early cases brought against tobacco companies, asserting that major manufacturers have long known the potential harms associated with high consumption of ultraprocessed foods.

These companies have exploited vulnerabilities in human biology, deliberately engineered products to keep people coming back, and then marketed them as convenient solutions for busy families, Chiu said in a statement. San Francisco taxpayers are bearing the cost of diet-related disease, and we believe the industry should be held accountable.

The lawsuit argues that the biochemical effects of UPFs, including rapid spikes in blood sugar and engineered bliss point flavor combinations, create patterns of dependency similar to other addictive substances.

Health and economic stakes for consumers

Public health experts cited in the complaint note that UPFs now make up more than half of the average American diet. Studies increasingly link high consumption to obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions. San Francisco officials say these illnesses strain the citys healthcare budget and disproportionately harm lower-income communities.

The suit claims that manufacturers obscure these risks through marketing techniques that emphasize convenience, affordability, natural ingredients, or added vitamins and mineralsmessaging the city alleges is intentionally misleading.

Industry response

Food industry groups have pushed back, arguing that the lawsuit unfairly vilifies widely consumed products and oversimplifies the causes of diet-related disease. Some manufacturers claim they have invested heavily in reformulating products to reduce salt, sugar, and saturated fat while expanding better-for-you product lines.

They also argue that dietary choices are influenced by complex social and economic factors beyond the control of any single company.

San Francisco is seeking financial damages to offset healthcare and public health costs as well as court-ordered changes to marketing practices. Legal experts say the case could set a precedent for how governments address the health impacts of ultraprocessed foodsand could open the door to similar lawsuits from other cities or states.

The issues include metal fragments and listeria risks

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Three separate cheese recalls were issued this month due to Listeria contamination and metal fragments.

• Products were sold at major retailers nationwide, including Wegmans, Target, Walmart, Aldi, and Publix.

• Consumers are urged to check their refrigerators and discard or return affected cheese immediately.

Consumers across the United States are being urged to check their refrigerators following three major cheese recalls issued in recent weeks. The recalls involve products sold nationwide and at major retailers, including Wegmans, Walmart, Aldi, Target, and Publix.

While no illnesses have been reported so far, officials warn that the recalled cheeses pose potential health risks ranging from Listeria monocytogenes infection to internal injury from metal fragments

Wegmans Food Markets has issued a recall of its Locatelli Grated Pecorino Romano Cheese after being notified by its supplier of potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The organism can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Pregnant women face additional risks, including miscarriage and stillbirth.

The cheese, packaged in plastic tubs with Wegmans scale labels and UPCs beginning with 2-77580-XXXXX-7, was sold between November 14 and November 24, 2025, in stores across 10 states and Washington, D.C. All lot codes have been pulled from shelves, and no illnesses have been reported.

Customers who purchased the product are urged to return it to Wegmans for a full refund. The company has provided extended customer service hours throughout the holiday period.

Ambriola Company recalls multiple brands

In a separate recall, the Ambriola Company has pulled a wide range of grated Pecorino Romano cheese products after routine testing detected Listeria monocytogenes. Out of caution, the company also recalled additional cheeses processed at its West Caldwell, New Jersey facility.

The affected products, sold under brands including Locatelli, Boars Head, Members Mark, Pinna, and others, were distributed nationwide between November 3 and November 20, 2025. Products include both retail cups and cheese sold by the pound, with dozens of specific expiration dates identified.

No illnesses have been reported, but customers experiencing symptoms of listeriosissuch as fever, headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, or diarrheaare encouraged to contact a healthcare provider.

Ambriola has suspended production and distribution while it conducts a full review of its food safety procedures. The company urges customers to discard the affected cheese or return it to the retailer for a refund.

Metal fragments in shredded cheese

A third recall involves shredded cheese produced by Great Lakes Cheese Co. Inc., sold under more than two dozen store and national brands at retailers including Target, Walmart, Aldi, H-E-B, Publix, Food Lion, and Sprouts.

Initially recalled on October 3, the issue involves potential metal fragments in shredded cheese blendsposing a risk of internal injury if consumed. On December 2, the FDA elevated the recall to a Class II classification, indicating that serious adverse health effects are remote but possible.

Brands affected by the recall include:

• Good & Gather (Target)

• Great Value (Walmart)

• Happy Farms (Aldi)

• Publix

• Borden, Food Club, Coburn Farms, Laura Lynn, and others

The recalled cheeses include Italian, pizza, mozzarellaprovolone, and mozzarellaparmesan blends. Products were distributed across 31 states and Puerto Rico, spanning the South, Midwest, Northeast, and West Coast.

While the FDA did not issue specific consumer instructions, experts say the safest step is to stop eating the affected cheese and either discard it or return it to the store.

What to do

Officials urge consumers to:

• Check all shredded and grated cheeses against the recall information.

• Dispose of or return any affected products.

• Seek medical attention if symptoms of listeriosis or internal injury occur.

• Contact retailers or manufacturers for refund information.

With the holiday season underwayand cheese a staple in many householdsofficials emphasize the importance of reviewing purchased products carefully.