Bryce Martinez, an 18-year-old from Warrington, is suing 11 major food manufacturers over ultra-processed foods after being diagnosed with fatty liver disease and diabetes at 16, writes Abraham Gutman for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Martinez claims that the companies deliberately engineered their products to be as addictive as cigarettes. He alleges in the lawsuit that he is a victim of a “predatory profiteering” scheme in which food giants create harmful products and market them to children without warning of the dangers of repeated consumption.

The lawsuit, which was filed in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on Tuesday, states that Martinez was diagnosed with both diseases after years of consuming ultra-processed products during his childhood, including Bagel Bites, Sour Patch Kids, Honey Bunches of Oats, Hot Pockets, and Pepsi, among others.

The complaint alleges that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and Type 2 diabetes “did not exist in children” prior to the advent and widespread consumption of ultra-processed foods.

The defendants listed in the lawsuit include Kraft Heinz Company, Post Holdings, Mondelez International, The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, General Mills, Nestle USA, Kellanova, WK Kellogg Co., Mars Incorporated, and Conagra Brands.

Read more about Bryce Martinez and his legal battle against ultra-processed food in The Philadelphia Inquirer.