Dangerous Ultra-Processed Foods and Type 2 Diabetes

For decades, mega-corporations in the food industry have knowingly flooded grocery store shelves with ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which are products designed for addiction and profit rather than health and nutrition. A Nov. 2024 article by the American Medical Association says these so-called “foods” make up 57% of daily caloric intake for adults and a shocking 67% for children in the U.S.

That means two of every three things your child eats aren’t even real food—they’re industrial formulations loaded with sugars, unhealthy fats, artificial additives, and chemicals meant to keep them hooked. The health-related consequences of this push have been devastating for generations of Americans, and the problem continues to worsen.

What Are Ultra-Processed Foods?

Modern grocery stores are dominated by UPFs, pushing out minimally processed or whole foods. Common UPFs include:

• Packaged snacks
• Sugary cereals
• Carbonated soft drinks
• Instant noodles
• Frozen pizzas and meals
• Ready-to-eat microwave meals

As the British Medical Journal (2024) states, UPFs are “industrial formulations primarily composed of chemically modified substances extracted from foods, along with additives to enhance taste, texture, appearance, and durability, with minimal to no inclusion of whole foods.”

Not only do they lack essential nutrients, but these highly processed products also pose serious long-term health risks—especially to children.

The Rise of Type 2 Diabetes in Children

Type 2 diabetes was virtually nonexistent in children before UPFs became a staple of the American diet. When cases of the disease first started appearing in kids, doctors were skeptical that children could even develop the disease. But today, the diagnosis rate is skyrocketing, and food manufacturers are primarily to blame.

The connection between UPFs and childhood metabolic diseases is undeniable. These products spike blood sugar, disrupt metabolism, and fuel chronic inflammation—all key factors in the development of type 2 diabetes. Yet, the corporations behind these foods actively market them to kids using:

• Bright colors and cartoon mascots to make junk food fun
• Deceptive health claims to mislead parents
• Strategic placement in schools and communities to maximize exposure

Instead of nourishing children, these companies are trapping them in a cycle of addiction and illness while making billions of dollars in the process.

Food Industry Negligence

The food industry knows UPFs are harmful and that they contribute to obesity, heart disease, and early-onset diabetes. Yet, it continues to market them aggressively, especially to vulnerable populations. Examples of its negligence include:

• Funding misleading research to downplay the risks
• Battling food labeling laws that would expose their tactics
• Designing hyper-palatable, addictive products to override the body’s natural hunger cues

This isn’t just corporate greed—it’s irresponsibility at the highest level. These companies knowingly put millions of children at risk for lifelong health problems, all in the name of profit.

Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Before Age 18?

If you or your child developed Type 2 diabetes before turning 18, you are not alone, and you may have legal options for compensation. The food industry should be held accountable for knowingly promoting dangerous products that have harmed and continue to harm generations of children.

A legal claim could help you seek compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and the lifelong impact of this preventable disease. Contact us for a free case review to learn how you can take action against the corporations that put profits over your family’s health and get the compensation you and your loved ones deserve.