The World Health Organization’s director general has publicly criticized large ultra-processed food companies for using litigation to obstruct government efforts to combat obesity through public health measures. According to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, these corporations are hindering global progress while simultaneously claiming public support for health initiatives.
A collaborative investigation by the Guardian, academic researchers, and international media partners examined legal challenges to health policies in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The study documented 235 lawsuits filed between 2010 and 2025 against governments implementing measures such as front-of-pack warning labels, restrictions on marketing unhealthy products, and taxes on junk food. Approximately three-quarters of these resolved cases were ultimately won by governments, yet the litigation resulted in substantial delays to policy implementation while consuming government resources and legal expenses.
The research identified that labeling requirements were the most frequently challenged policies, followed by junk food taxes and marketing restrictions. The lawsuits were predominantly filed by ultra-processed food corporations or their industry representatives, with eight parent corporations—including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Mondelēz, Kellogg’s, Danone, Ferrero, Xignux, and Heartland Food Products Group—accounting for 38 percent of identifiable cases. Some large corporations requested anonymity in court proceedings.
Tedros emphasized that while individual unsuccessful lawsuits may appear insignificant, the cumulative effect has been damaging. Legal battles averaged 2.5 years per case and collectively represent nearly 600 years of costly litigation. This prolonged legal pressure has created a deterrent effect, discouraging other nations from adopting similar health protections, particularly in lower-income regions where obesity-related disease burdens are growing. The WHO leader called on companies claiming commitment to public health to cease legal action and support government initiatives addressing the global obesity crisis.
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