The World Health Organization’s director general has characterized legal action by major food corporations as obstructive to global public health initiatives. According to statements, these companies are filing lawsuits against governments implementing policies designed to reduce consumption of ultra-processed foods and promote healthier diets.
A multi-country investigation coordinated by the Guardian, in collaboration with academic institutions and media organizations across multiple continents, identified 235 lawsuits related to health policies targeting ultra-processed foods filed in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, the US, and the UK between 2010 and 2025. The analysis revealed that labeling requirements were the most frequently litigated policy, followed by taxation on junk food and restrictions on marketing. Of the lawsuits with documented outcomes, approximately three-quarters were decided in favor of governments.
Despite the low success rate for corporations, the litigation has resulted in substantial delays to policy implementation. The investigation documented nearly 600 cumulative years of legal proceedings, with an average duration of 2.5 years per case. These delays have financial implications for governments managing both healthcare and legal expenses. The analysis identified eight parent corporations responsible for 38% of lawsuits where plaintiffs could be identified: Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Mondelēz, Kellogg’s, Danone, Ferrero, Xignux, and Heartland Food Products Group.
The WHO leadership noted that ultra-processed foods constitute approximately half the average diet in multiple countries including the UK, the US, and Australia. The organization stated that unhealthy diets are major drivers of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer, with nearly 1 billion people worldwide living with obesity. The WHO director general called on companies claiming commitment to public health solutions to cease litigation efforts that strain government resources and impede protective measures.
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