"These companies engineered a public health crisis, they profited handsomely, and now they need to take responsibility for the harm they have caused."

The city accuses Kraft Heinz and other food giants of knowingly selling products that have caused serious diseases, leaving local governments with the public health care costs.

Many of the nation's best-known food brands make ultra-processed foods that are dangerous to eat and use deceptive marketing to sell them, San Francisco officials claim.