WHO: Ultra-Processed Food Companies Sue Countries to Block Health Policies

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that major ultra-processed food corporations are undermining global efforts to combat the obesity crisis by launching lawsuits against governments implementing healthier diet policies. According to the WHO, nearly 1 billion people live with obesity worldwide, while heavy corporate litigation over front-of-pack labels, taxes, and advertising restrictions costs nations billions of dollars and delays vital public health protections.

Corporate Litigation Obstructs Global Health Policies

Global food companies are actively obstructing public health measures designed to curb junk-food intake, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Unhealthy diets serve as primary drivers for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer, with ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption now comprising half of the average diet in nations like the UK, the US, and Australia. Governments have responded by introducing front-of-pack warning labels, marketing restrictions, and taxes. However, an investigation by the Guardian, Lighthouse Reports, academics, and international media partners revealed that food corporations filed 235 lawsuits between 2010 and 2025 in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, the US, and the UK to overturn, weaken, or delay these regulations.

The Financial and Human Toll of Food Industry Lawsuits

Although three-quarters of resolved lawsuits were ultimately lost by food corporations, the extensive litigation strategy successfully delayed public health protections for years. Tedros noted that these legal battles amount to nearly 600 cumulative years of costly litigation—averaging 2.5 years per case. This persistent legal pressure drains government resources and creates a regulatory chill that discourages other nations from adopting similar protections. Major parent corporations identified in the litigation include Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Mondelēz, Kellogg’s, Danone, Ferrero, Xignux, and Heartland Food Products Group, with some companies requesting court-mandated secrecy for their identities.

Global Inquities and the Call for Industry Accountability

Effective public health policies remain heavily concentrated in upper-middle and high-income countries, compounding global health inequities. While Tedros acknowledged that some large food corporations report progress in making their products healthier, he emphasized that these voluntary efforts fall short of addressing the crisis. He urged companies to drop ongoing lawsuits and cease tactics that strain government resources, noting that sustained momentum for preventative health measures is essential to reversing the global obesity epidemic.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of public health policies face the most lawsuits from food corporations?

Labelling on food items face the highest volume of lawsuits from UPF manufacturers, followed by taxes on junk food and advertising restrictions.

Which companies are most frequently involved in legal challenges against health regulations?

Of the identified corporate plaintiffs, 38% of the lawsuits were brought by eight parent corporations: Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Mondelēz, Kellogg’s, Danone, Ferrero, Xignux, and Heartland Food Products Group.

How much do these lawsuits delay public health regulations?

According to the WHO, legal challenges have amounted to nearly 600 cumulative years of legal battles, averaging 2.5 years per case and delaying vital protections while inflating legal and healthcare expenses.