Processed Food Marketing Can Have Dramatic Effect on Youth Consumption: Study

Black and Latino teens and young adults are disproportionately exposed to unhealthy food advertising across various media platforms.

New research indicates that targeted marketing of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which is directed towards teens and young adults, has a significant impact on their consumption of the junk foods, which have been linked to an increased risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases.

According to findings published last month in the journal Obesity Reviews, youth consumption of unhealthy food products is largely driven by the food industry’s aggressive use of social media influencers and other forms of marketing.

Ultra-processed foods include many sugary cereals, packaged snacks, frozen meals and soft drinks, which have become a staple in American households, largely due to extensive marketing efforts by food manufacturers.

However, a growing body of evidence indicates that food manufacturers knew or should have known that regular consumption of ultra-processed foods significantly increases the risk of chronic health conditions and long-term adverse effects in children, such as type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), hypertension, obesity and other medical conditions.

As a result of these findings, a number of families are now pursuing processed foods lawsuits against major food manufacturers, including Kraft Heinz, Coca-Cola, General Mills, Kellogg’s and others, alleging that their children have been left with these life-long, chronic diseases.

In the new study, researchers from the CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute in New York looked at 127 different studies and reviews to help determine how and where unhealthy food products are being marketed to young people.

The research team, led by Rositsa T. Ilieva, examined the effect of these marketing efforts on a cohort of adolescents aged 13 to 17, as well as young adults aged 18 to 25.

The findings indicate that low income Black and Latino adolescents are exposed to a disproportionate amount of this kind of advertising, when compared to their more affluent or white peers.

In addition, the researchers found that the marketing of unhealthy products, such as ultra-processed foods, coincides with a higher consumption of those products, with social media influencers in particular playing increasingly prominent roles.

“Based on these findings, we suggest paths for future research to reduce the harmful impact of marketing unhealthy food and beverages to young people.”

-Rositsa T. Ilieva, Exposure to and Impact of Unhealthy Food Marketing on Adolescents and Young Adults

Ultra-Processed Foods Lawsuits

Mounting research on the harmful health effects of ultra-processed foods, combined with evidence of targeted marketing to vulnerable populations, has prompted a growing number of lawsuits against major food manufacturers.

One of the first known ultra-processed food lawsuits was filed by Bryce Martinez in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas in December 2024, alleging that years of exposure to aggressively marketed junk food products caused him to develop type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by the age of 16.

The complaint names Kraft Heinz, Coca-Cola, General Mills, Kellogg’s, Nestlé and several other major food manufacturers as defendants, claiming they knowingly designed and promoted ultra-processed foods with addictive ingredients while targeting children and vulnerable communities through deceptive advertising. 

Martinez accuses the companies of prioritizing profits over public health, stating that his early and repeated consumption of these products led to serious long-term health consequences.

The case was later transferred to the federal court system, where it is now being overseen by U.S. District Judge Mia R. Perez in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The food manufacturers have filed a motion to dismiss the claims, and Judge Perez is expected to issue a key ruling that could shape the future of the litigation.

Her decision may have wide-reaching implications, potentially influencing how many individuals move forward with similar lawsuits. Dozens of families are already seeking legal representation, alleging that routine consumption of ultra-processed foods has led to serious health conditions in themselves or their children.

As the court weighs whether these claims can proceed, ultra-processed food lawyers continue to investigate new cases involving children and young adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and other chronic illnesses linked to early and prolonged exposure to processed food products.

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