The head of the World Health Organization has stated that major ultra-processed food corporations are obstructing global public health initiatives designed to combat rising obesity rates by initiating legal actions against governments. The WHO director general noted that these companies are imposing substantial financial burdens on nations through both litigation and healthcare costs while delaying the implementation of health policies.
A collaborative investigation involving the Guardian, academic institutions, and media organizations across four continents documented 235 lawsuits challenging health policies targeting ultra-processed foods in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, the US, and the UK between 2010 and 2025. While governments won approximately three-quarters of these resolved cases, the legal proceedings resulted in an estimated cumulative total of nearly 600 years of costly litigation, averaging 2.5 years per case. The delays prevented the timely rollout of public health measures even when companies ultimately lost their legal challenges.
Government policies most frequently targeted through litigation included front-of-package labeling requirements, followed by taxation on unhealthy products and restrictions on marketing and advertising. Approximately three-quarters of the lawsuits were filed by ultra-processed food companies or their trade associations. Among identifiable plaintiffs, eight parent corporations—Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Mondelēz, Kellogg’s, Danone, Ferrero, Xignux, and Heartland Food Products Group—accounted for 38% of cases filed.
The WHO emphasized that while some large food manufacturers have made progress in reformulating products, such efforts remain insufficient. Officials urged companies to cease litigation and allow governments to implement evidence-based public health measures. The organization noted that the burden of obesity and limited capacity to respond disproportionately affects lower-income nations, with litigation further delaying action in regions where intervention is most critical.
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