A multi-country investigation by the Guardian and partner organizations has documented extensive litigation by major ultra-processed food (UPF) manufacturers against government health policies designed to reduce consumption of unhealthy products. The research identified 235 lawsuits filed in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, the US and the UK over policies targeting UPF from 2010 to 2025.
Three-quarters of the identified lawsuits were filed by UPF manufacturers or trade associations representing them. Eight parent corporations—Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Mondelēz, Kellogg’s, Danone, Ferrero, Xignux and Heartland Food Products Group—accounted for 38% of cases where the plaintiff could be identified. Some corporations requested that courts withhold their names from public record. The policies most frequently challenged through litigation involved front-of-pack warning labels, followed by taxes on junk food and marketing restrictions.
Although governments won approximately three-quarters of resolved cases, experts say the litigation serves multiple objectives beyond legal victory. The lawsuits have delayed adoption of vital public health policies for years in some instances and consumed substantial government resources. Some legal battles collectively amounted to nearly 600 years in court proceedings. Researchers and health experts contend that the litigation strategy mirrors tactics historically employed by the tobacco industry, functioning to slow implementation, discourage policymakers from adopting additional measures and create uncertainty among regulators.
Mexico accounted for the vast majority of lawsuits (193), with Colombia (18) and Brazil (17) also seeing significant litigation activity. Only six lawsuits were filed in the US and one in the UK. Experts attributed this geographic distribution to Latin America’s leadership in adopting strong food environment policies, making the region a key testing ground for both public health measures and industry resistance.
Representatives from Coca-Cola, Ferrero and Danone responded to requests for comment, emphasizing commitment to public health collaboration and policy clarity. PepsiCo, Mondelēz, Kellogg’s, Xignux and Heartland Food Products Group did not respond to comment requests.
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