- Boating Accident Resources
- Car Accident Resources
- Construction Accident Resources
- Dog Bite Resources
- Firm News
- Motorcycle Accident Resources
- Personal Injury Resources
- Premises Liability Resources
- Product Liability/Mass Tort Resources
- Slip and Fall Resources
- Truck Accident Resources
- Uncategorized
- Worker's Compensation Resources
- Wrongful Death Resources
Can ultra-processed foods cause fatty liver disease in kids? It’s an excellent question you probably thought you’d never have to ask.
Liver disease is something most parents associate with adulthood—not childhood. Yet across the United States, doctors are diagnosing children and teenagers with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) at alarming rates.
These children have never consumed alcohol. What they have consumed, often for years, is a diet dominated by ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
Medical organizations, including the American Liver Foundation, Boston Children’s Hospital, and researchers supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), have linked long-term consumption of ultra-processed foods to pediatric liver disease. In severe cases, children now require liver transplants before adulthood.
So, can UPFs cause fatty liver disease in children? It seems likely, and we should all be paying attention.
At Bernheim Kelley, we represent families nationwide whose children suffered serious liver damage after years of eating ultra-processed foods. We are investigating whether food manufacturers knowingly marketed products that harmed their developing bodies.
If your child developed a serious health condition (type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cancer, NAFLD) after regularly eating UPFs, you may be able to take legal action. Call our mass tort team at 617-420-1111 or fill out our online form today for more information and a FREE, no-obligation consultation.
Pediatric Liver Disease Is No Longer Rare
According to the American Liver Foundation, fatty liver disease affects about 1 in 10 children in the U.S., with the fastest growth among adolescents. Many children have no symptoms until liver damage is already advanced.
Doctors at Boston Children’s Hospital who treat fatty liver disease in kids have found that it is strongly tied to diet and weight. Studies have linked higher ultra-processed food intake to higher odds of fatty liver disease in teens (Hepatology Communications).
How Ultra-Processed Foods Harm the Liver
Ultra-processed foods damage the liver by overwhelming it with excess sugar, disrupting gut bacteria through additives, and replacing fiber-rich whole foods that protect liver function. Over time, that can push the liver to store extra fat and become inflamed, which is what happens in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Research has linked higher UPF intake with a higher risk of NAFLD, and studies suggest that excess sugars and some additives may help drive that risk (Journal of Hepatology).
Frequently Asked Questions
NAFLD is a condition where fat builds up in the liver of someone who does not drink alcohol. In children, it is often linked to diet and metabolic dysfunction. For a kid, that can mean the liver doesn’t work as well over time, leading to fatigue, belly pain, and, if it worsens, serious scarring that can cause long-term health problems.
Eating a lot of ultra-processed foods can raise a child’s risk of fatty liver disease. In an NIH-supported national survey study, teens who ate the most ultra-processed foods were more likely to have NAFLD than teens who ate the least.
This doesn’t mean one snack causes liver disease, but a steady diet of these foods can overwhelm the liver with added sugar and additives and push the body toward weight gain and blood-sugar problems. The American Liver Foundation lists insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and an unhealthy diet with little exercise as major risk factors for kids.
Very. NAFLD can progress to liver scarring, liver failure, and in severe cases, require a liver transplant—even in children and teens. That can mean years of doctors’ visits, strict diet changes, missed school and activities, and a lifelong need to watch their liver health.
Yes. Recent lawsuits, including one filed by the City of San Francisco, allege that food companies used addiction-based marketing strategies similar to those used by tobacco companies.
Families may qualify if a child was diagnosed with NAFLD or NASH before age 18, is under age 30, and has consumed ultra-processed foods over a long period.
- Your child was diagnosed with NAFLD or NASH before age 18
- They are currently under 30 years old
- They regularly ate and drank ultra-processed foods and beverages over a long period
If this is you or your child, a mass tort trial attorney at Bernheim Kelley wants to talk to you and answer your questions. Contact us now to set up a free consultation.
Yes. Bernheim Kelley offers free, confidential consultations with no obligation. Reach out now to schedule yours and tell us your story. You may be able to pursue a legal claim and get some Real Justice for your child and family.
The Same Addiction Tactics Used by Big Tobacco
In 2025, the City and County of San Francisco filed a lawsuit against major food and beverage companies, alleging they engineered UPFs to drive addiction (especially among children) using strategies similar to those once used by tobacco companies.
Why This Matters for Families
Children cannot make informed choices about products engineered to be addictive and marketed directly to them. When kids suffer, accountability matters.
Years of doctor visits, scary diagnoses, missed school, and a childhood that starts to revolve around food rules and medical care aren’t okay. Families deserve answers about what was in these products and who’s going to pay when their kid’s health is changed for the long haul.
Bernheim Kelley Holds Big Corporations Accountable
When big companies sell harmful products, we deserve answers and accountability. When they sell it to our kids, we demand justice. Bernheim Kelley has taken on tobacco companies in Massachusetts over addictive products and deceptive marketing, winning a $200 million verdict against R.J. Reynolds. We also helped secure a $250 million settlement in the GranuFlo dialysis cases involving Fresenius Medical Care.
That same trial-tested approach now guides our ultra-processed food litigation.
Do We Qualify?
Your family may qualify if your child was diagnosed with NAFLD or NASH before age 18, is currently under 30, and has a history of regular, long-term consumption of ultra-processed foods.
If you have questions about the UPF lawsuit or if you aren’t sure that you are eligible, Bernheim Kelley is ready to chat with you. Fill out the online form, and we’ll contact you to talk about next steps. No pressure. Just real support.
If you are following this series, you may want to read:
The Hidden Epidemic: Why Ultra-Processed Foods Are Causing Type 2 Diabetes and Liver Disease in Children
Taking the First Step
Bernheim Kelley offers free, confidential consultations to families nationwide. We know how hard it is to watch your child suffer and not be able to help. It affects the whole family. We’re here as Real Advocates to listen, support you, and try to get you the compensation and accountability you need and deserve.
Our mass tort team is actively investigating whether food companies knowingly pushed products that harmed kids’ developing bodies. If your child developed a serious condition after regularly eating ultra-processed foods, you may have legal options. Call 617-420-1111 or fill out our online form today.
Why Choose Us?
When you’re facing one of the toughest moments of your life, you need more than just a lawyer—you need a trusted ally who will stand with you and fight for your rights.
