Plaintiff accuses major food corporations of contributing to chronic illnesses through ultra-processed foods

A new lawsuit has been filed that could have significant implications for the food industry. On January 16, 2026, Shastin Jenkins filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against several major food corporations, including The Kraft Heinz Company, Mondelez International, Inc., and others. Jenkins accuses these companies of contributing to serious health issues through their production and marketing of ultra-processed foods (UPF).

The lawsuit centers around the claim that UPFs are inherently harmful due to their industrial production processes, which involve fractioning foods into substances and chemically modifying them before reassembling them with additives. These foods have been linked to a rise in chronic illnesses such as obesity and Type 2 Diabetes since their proliferation in the 1980s. Jenkins alleges that this rise coincided with Big Tobacco’s entry into the food market, using similar strategies from cigarette marketing to make UPFs addictive. “Big Tobacco used cigarette addiction science to develop UPF,” the complaint states, highlighting how these companies employed brain research on sensory perceptions to increase consumption.

Jenkins argues that despite being aware of these health risks for decades, these companies have continued their practices unabated. She cites a secret meeting in 1999 where executives from major UPF companies discussed the public health impact of their products but chose not to change course. The plaintiff claims she was targeted by marketing campaigns designed to increase her consumption of UPFs, leading to her diagnosis with Type 2 Diabetes and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease at just 14 years old.

In her lawsuit, Jenkins seeks damages for the harm caused by these companies’ actions. She is asking for compensation not only for her medical conditions but also for additional damages as permitted under applicable law. The case could potentially open doors for more litigation against food manufacturers if it establishes a precedent linking UPFs directly to health issues.

Representing Jenkins are attorneys whose names were not disclosed in the document. The case is being overseen by judges from the Eastern District of Louisiana under Case ID 2:26-cv-00115.