February 5th, 2025
By John Patterson
In a world where convenience often trumps quality, the food industry has quietly engineered a crisis. A groundbreaking lawsuit filed by an 18-year-old Pennsylvania teenager, Bryce Martinez, against 11 major food manufacturers sheds light on the devastating health impacts of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). These products—engineered to be as addictive as cigarettes—are being linked to chronic illnesses like fatty liver disease, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity, particularly among children. This article dives deep into the lawsuit, the science behind UPFs, and how to protect yourself and your loved ones.
The Lawsuit That Could Change Everything
A Teenager’s Battle Against Big Food
Bryce Martinez’s lawsuit, described as “the first of its kind,” alleges that ultra-processed foods caused him to develop life-altering health conditions, including fatty liver disease and Type 2 diabetes. Filed in December 2024, the 148-page complaint accuses companies like Coca-Cola, Nestlé USA, PepsiCo, and General Mills of engaging in “predatory profiteering.”
Martinez’s lawyer, Rene F. Rocha, told The Defender, “This has made a life-altering impact on Bryce Martinez’s life and so many other children like him. We think it’s the first step of getting answers and justice for a lot of bad conduct that has really contaminated our food environment.”
The lawsuit draws chilling parallels between Big Food and Big Tobacco, alleging that food manufacturers used similar tactics to engineer addiction and aggressively market their products to children. According to Rocha, these companies deliberately designed UPFs to hack the brain’s physiological structures, making them irresistible to young consumers.
The Science Behind the Claims
Scientific studies cited in the lawsuit reveal a direct correlation between the rise of UPFs and skyrocketing rates of childhood obesity and related diseases. Pediatrician Dr. Michelle Perro explains, “The food industry has neuroscientists designing their addictive cocktails that have a combination of fats, salt, sugar, and palatants [flavor enhancers] to create junk food addictions in our youth.”
Perro also highlights the NutriNet-Santé study, one of the most extensive investigations into children’s diets, which found that high consumption of UPFs increases the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and mental health disorders.
What Are Ultraprocessed Foods?
Alien to Human Experience
The lawsuit defines UPFs as “industrially produced edible substances” that are far removed from whole foods. These products undergo extensive chemical modification, combining refined ingredients, added sugars, unhealthy fats, and artificial additives. Think Bagel Bites, Cheez-Its, Hot Pockets, and Sour Patch Kids—the very snacks many of us grew up loving.
Dr. Joseph Mercola, a leading health advocate and contributing writer for Wake Up World, describes UPFs as “alien to prior human experience.” He notes that these foods lack essential nutrients and disrupt metabolism, gut health, and cellular function. Since the 1980s, when UPFs exploded onto the market, rates of obesity, diabetes, and chronic inflammation have surged.
The Role of Linoleic Acid
One particularly harmful ingredient in UPFs is linoleic acid (LA), an omega-6 fat found in seed oils like soybean and corn oil. Excessive LA consumption disrupts mitochondrial function, the powerhouse of our cells, leading to energy deficits and chronic disease. Mercola warns, “The primary reason why excess LA is harmful to your health is because it disrupts your cellular powerhouses—the mitochondria.”
When consumed in large quantities, LA triggers chronic inflammation, a root cause of heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune disorders. To protect your health, experts recommend keeping your daily LA intake below 5 grams.
How Big Food Mimics Big Tobacco
The Cigarette Playbook
The lawsuit reveals that Big Food adopted strategies straight from Big Tobacco’s playbook. In the 1980s, tobacco giants like Phillip Morris and RJ Reynolds acquired prominent food companies, flooding the market with addictive substances.
“Big Tobacco took over the American food environment,” the lawsuit states. “They used their cigarette playbook to fill our food environment with addictive substances that are aggressively marketed to children and minorities.”
For example, scientists who studied nicotine’s addictiveness at a secret Phillip Morris lab in Germany later consulted with Kraft and General Foods on UPF development. MRI machines initially used to study addiction were repurposed to engineer foods that maximize cravings.
Marketing to the Vulnerable
Today, the UPF industry spends nearly $2 billion annually marketing to children. These tactics, from TV ads to social media influencers, prey on young minds. Pediatrician Dr. Michelle Perro notes, “Industry preys upon our youth with social media influencers extolling highly processed industrialized food-like products.”
The result? A generation hooked on junk food, with 12-15% of U.S. children demonstrating addictive behaviors in response to UPFs.
The Impact on Your Body
Metabolic Chaos
Ultra-processed foods wreak havoc on your metabolism. High in refined carbs, added sugars, and unhealthy fats, they disrupt blood sugar regulation and promote insulin resistance. This sets the stage for obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
A 2023 study highlighted in the lawsuit found that UPF consumption correlates directly with an increased risk of coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disorders.
Gut Health and Chronic Inflammation
Your gut microbiome is crucial to digestion, immunity, and mental health. UPFs disrupt this delicate ecosystem, reducing bacterial diversity and fostering inflammation. Chronic inflammation, in turn, contributes to heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune conditions.
Dr. Meryl Nass emphasizes, “Fixing food is simply a matter of removing the industry harnesses from our federal agencies, ending revolving doors, and ending financial prizes for public servants.”
Taking Control of Your Health
Practical Steps to Avoid UPFs
While the lawsuit seeks accountability from Big Food, the power to protect your health ultimately lies in your hands. Here are actionable tips to help you break free from ultra-processed foods:
Read Labels Carefully – Look for red flags like long ingredient lists, artificial additives, and vegetable oils. Remember, the fewer ingredients, the better.
Cook More at Home – Preparing meals at home allows you to control what goes into your food. Start with simple recipes using fresh produce and grass-fed meats.
Make Smart Swaps – Replace sugary drinks with water or unsweetened tea. Choose fruit instead of candy for a sweet treat. Small changes add up over time.
Practice Mindful Eating – Pay attention to hunger cues and savor each bite. This helps prevent overeating and fosters a healthier relationship with food.
Advocating for Change
Individual choices matter, but collective action is equally important. Advocate for stricter regulations on food labeling and marketing. Support local farmers’ markets, community gardens, and school food programs prioritizing nutritious options.
As Sayer Ji, founder of GreenMedInfo and contributing writer for Wake up World, says, “Holding such industries accountable is not just about justice—it’s about protecting consumers, especially children, from a system that prioritizes profits over public health.”
Conclusion: A Call to Action
The lawsuit against Big Food serves as a wake-up call, exposing the hidden dangers of ultra-processed foods. From mitochondrial dysfunction to gut health issues and chronic inflammation, the evidence is clear: these products harm our health.
But there’s hope. By making informed choices, cooking more at home, and advocating for systemic change, we can reclaim our health and create a brighter future for future generations. As Dr. Joseph Mercola reminds us, “Small changes make a big difference.”
So, take the first step today. Swap out that bag of chips for a handful of nuts. Cook a meal from scratch. And remember, your health is in your hands. Together, we can build a world where wholesome, nourishing food is the norm—not the exception.
About the author
John Patterson is an avid writer and researcher who delves into the latest scientific research. With an insatiable curiosity, he translates complex concepts into accessible narratives, allowing readers to embark on a journey of discovery. John bridges the gap between experts and the public through his work, igniting curiosity and inspiring meaningful conversations about scientific breakthroughs.
