The Hidden Cost: Childhood Type 2 Diabetes and NAFLD
Receiving a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes or Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD/NASH), now often called Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease or MASLD, and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis or MASH) for a child is overwhelming.
The connection between these diagnoses and corporate practices is increasingly recognized in the legal system. Families seek clarity, answers, and compensation.
At Outreach Legal, we combine deep legal expertise with a medically grounded approach to navigate complex mass tort litigation. Our goal is to guide families step-by-step and secure the justice they deserve.
Step 1: Qualification Criteria: The Foundation of Your Claim
To pursue legal action against manufacturers of ultra-processed foods ($\text{UPFs}$), your case must meet precise requirements.
- The Qualifying Medical Diagnosis
Current lawsuits focus on children and young adults with:
- Type 2 Diabetes: Chronic condition causing insulin resistance and high blood sugar.
- NAFLD/NASH / MASLD/MASH: Severe fat buildup and inflammation in the liver.
- The Critical Age of Onset
The legal argument emphasizes exposure during developmental years. Therefore:
- Diagnosis must occur before age 18.
- In some cases, early evaluations up to age 30 are considered, as legal criteria evolve.
- Protecting Your Legal Rights (Statute of Limitations)
Every state enforces strict deadlines for filing claims. Deadlines generally start from diagnosis or the date the injury was discovered. Missing these deadlines permanently bars your right to compensation. Early consultation ensures proper documentation of medical records, UPF consumption history, and other evidence.
Step 2: Legal Basis: Allegations of Corporate Deception
These claims are built on allegations of corporate negligence and intentional misconduct:
- Intentional Product Engineering: Foods were engineered to be hyper-palatable and addictive using precise combinations of sugars, fats, and salts to drive consumption.
- Deceptive Marketing Practices: Manufacturers misrepresented products as “healthy” while knowing the health risks of high sugar/fat content.
- Failure to Warn: Corporations allegedly had scientific knowledge of potential long-term harm but failed to warn parents and children, mirroring litigation against the tobacco industry.
- Breach of Warranty: Asserting that the manufacturers breached implied and express warranties by selling products that were not reasonably safe or fit for their intended use as marketed.
Step 3: Establishing Causation: The Path to Compensation
A lawsuit requires proof that the manufacturer’s product was a legal cause of the injury. This involves meticulous evidence gathering and expert analysis.
- Documenting Consumption History
We work with families to establish a detailed, verifiable history of $\text{UPF}$ consumption. Focus is on sustained reliance on products marketed to children.
- Example Products: Pre-sweetened cereals, packaged snack cakes, soft drinks, frozen dinners, and processed meats.
- Legal Insight: $\text{CDC}$ research shows that $\text{61.9\%}$ of the average daily calories for American youth come from ultra-processed foods ($\text{JAMA}$ Network). Our goal is to link this consumption specifically to your child’s illness.
What Evidence We Need:
- Purchase Records: Grocery receipts, credit card statements, and store loyalty program data showing long-term purchases of defendant’s products.
- Medical Records: Diagnostic reports, treatment notes, and lab results showing onset before age 18.
- Marketing Materials: Packaging, advertisements, or promotional materials that may have influenced the family’s purchasing decision.
- Medical Nexus: Expert Legal Strategy
Establishing causation requires a Medical Nexus Letter from qualified medical experts:
- General Causation: UPFs can cause Type 2 Diabetes/NAFLD in children.
- Specific Causation: UPFs were a legal cause of this child’s illness.
This approach directly addresses prior court challenges, such as the initial dismissal of the Bryce Martinez case, where insufficient specificity about products, amounts, and consumption timing led to an adverse ruling. Our strategy provides the product-specific evidence required to satisfy strict evidentiary standards.
Step 4: Our Commitment to Your Family
Mass tort litigation against multinational corporations is complex. Outreach Legal simplifies the process, securing comprehensive financial recovery for:
- Medical Costs: Past/future treatments, medications, specialists, and lifelong monitoring
- Pain & Suffering: Emotional distress and reduced quality of life
- Loss of Future Capacity: Reduced earning potential or long-term disability due to chronic illness, including dialysis, liver transplant, or severe cardiovascular complications
Contact Outreach Legal Today
Free, confidential case evaluations are available. Our mass tort attorneys provide strategic legal guidance to pursue UPFs claims, maximize recovery, and support your family. Do not risk missing your Statute of Limitations. Contact us now.
