Ultra-Processed Foods
Were you or a loved one diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or type 2 diabetes as a teenager after regularly eating ultra-processed food products?
If so, you may be entitled to compensation from the responsible party.
What are ultra-processed foods?
Ultra-processed foods are foods that are made mostly from substances that you would not normally use in home cooking. They are different from minimally processed or processed foods. As explained in the NOVA Food Classification System, processed foods typically include whole foods that have added substances, and are recognized as modified versions of unprocessed foods. For example, cheese, fresh bread, canned fish, etc.
Ultra-processed foods, however, are products that are created using substances derived from foods, including starches, added sugars, and hydrogenated fats. They may also contain additives like artificial colors and flavors, preservatives, and stabilizers. There is little to no unprocessed food content present in ultra-processed foods.
Examples of ultra-processed foods include soft drinks, breakfast cereals, sweet or savory packaged snacks, reconstituted meat products such as hot dogs and cold cuts, and frozen meals.
While these ultra-processed foods may be more cost-effective and convenient, they can be dangerous. Research published in the British Medical Journal studying ultra-processed food consumption found that eating more ultra-processed food is associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes.
Many ultra-processed foods are marketed to children, with colorful packaging, recognizable mascots, and catchy commercials. Recent studies have demonstrated the health risks that ultra-processed foods present to children and teenagers. A 2025 study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), found an association between eating high ultra-processed food during early childhood and obesity.
What are examples of ultra-processed foods?
According to researcher performed by the Network Science Institute at Northeastern University, about 70% of items in U.S. grocery stores are ultra-processed foods.
Ultra-processed foods can come in many different forms. Many stereotypical “junk” food products are ultra-processed. The following are some common examples:
- Sodas or energy drinks
- Sugary breakfast cereals and energy bars
- Packaged desserts, ice cream, candies
- Processed meat products including hot dogs, chicken nuggets, cold cuts, etc.
- Condiments and sauces
Ultra-processed foods often contain:
- Additives: artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, emulsifiers, thickeners, or preservatives (e.g., sodium benzoate, xanthan gum, aspartame)
- Highly processed ingredients: protein isolates, hydrogenated oils, maltodextrin, or high-fructose corn syrup
- Long ingredient lists: typically more than 5–10 items, many of which are not recognizable as food
Why might you or a loved one be entitled to legal compensation?
Eating ultra-processed foods at a young age can contribute to developing chronic diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes.
If you or a loved one was diagnosed with a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or type 2 diabetes between the ages of 12 to 18 and regularly ate ultra-processed foods, you may qualify for a lawsuit.
Finding out if you have a potential claim is free and fast: