02/13/2026
san francisco is suing 10 ultra-processed food companies. the lawsuit argues that cities and counties have been burdened with the costs of treating diseases that stem from the companies’ products.��this goes beyond just san francisco though. it has been reported that chronic health conditions impose a massive economic burden on the entire country, accounting for approximately 90% of the $4.9 trillion in annual health care expenditures in the U.S. in 2016 alone, health care spending on chronic conditions topped $1 trillion, the equivalent to 6% of the US GDP. sadly, 70 percent of the american food supply and grocery store shelves are now comprised of ultra-processed foods. and if you think ultra-processed foods are limited to just chips and snack cakes, ultra-processed foods also include things like store bought granola, flavored yogurt, protein bars, microwaveable popcorn, and deli meat. the reason these foods are so detrimental to public health is because they are major contributors to chronic diseases. several studies have linked these foods to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. but it’s lesser know how wide the spectrum of chronic health diseases is. it also includes cancer, PCOS, hormonal acne, and neurodegenerative diseases like alzheimer’s and parkinson’s and psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety. if you want to put yourself less at risk for developing chronic health conditions, cut back on processed foods and increase your intake of fiber.
