The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has accused the world's biggest ultra-processed food (UPF) corporations of hindering global efforts to tackle the obesity crisis by suing governments that try to promote healthier diets. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director general, said these companies are obstructing vital public health measures and costing countries billions of dollars in healthcare and legal expenses.
An investigation by the Guardian, in collaboration with academics, the non-profit newsroom Lighthouse Reports, and media partners across four continents, found 235 lawsuits were lodged over health policies targeting UPFs in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, the US, and the UK from 2010 to 2025. The lawsuits were aimed at overturning, weakening, or delaying policies such as front-of-pack warning labels, marketing restrictions, and taxes on junk food.
Industry interference pattern
“The findings of the global investigation by the Guardian and other outlets into ultra-processed food come as no surprise, but they are met with grim recognition,” Tedros said. “When harm and profit are tied to the same product, a familiar pattern of industry interference emerges: sowing doubt and obstructing regulation.”
Of the resolved lawsuits, three-quarters were lost by the food corporations. However, even unsuccessful cases delayed the adoption of public health measures for years, tying up government officials in complex and expensive litigation. The persistent litigation suggests objectives beyond winning, such as slowing policy rollouts and deterring other countries from adopting similar measures.
Costly legal battles
The lawsuits have prolonged the global obesity crisis, costing countries billions in legal and healthcare costs. “The report documents how litigation has been used to oppose or weaken public health measures on obesity and unhealthy diets, amounting to nearly 600 cumulative years of costly legal battles, an average of 2.5 years per case, most of them unsuccessful,” Tedros said. “These delays cost countries billions in healthcare and legal expenses and create a regulatory chill that deters governments from adopting vital protections.”
Almost 1 billion people worldwide are living with obesity, and unhealthy diets are major drivers of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. UPF consumption now makes up half the average diet in many countries, including the UK, the US, and Australia.
Who is behind the lawsuits?
The investigation, the first multi-country analysis of its kind, involved researchers from the Robert and Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Centre, the University of Sydney, the University of São Paulo, and the University of Caldas. Three-quarters of the lawsuits were filed by UPF companies or trade groups. Some corporations requested courts keep their identities secret, according to documents reviewed by the Guardian.
Of lawsuits where the plaintiff could be identified, 38% were brought by eight parent corporations: Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Mondelēz, Kellogg’s, Danone, Ferrero, Xignux, and Heartland Food Products Group. Labelling on food items was the most sued-over policy, followed by taxes on junk food and marketing restrictions.
Call to end litigation
Tedros acknowledged some large food companies have reported progress in making products healthier, but said they should drop lawsuits if serious about tackling obesity. “These efforts are welcome, but they are not sufficient on their own to meet the scale of this global health crisis. To contribute meaningfully to the solution, companies should also end litigation and other tactics that strain limited government resources and hinder efforts to protect public health.”
Last year, the Guardian revealed that the UK government dropped new guidance urging shops to promote minimally processed food after a lobbying campaign by UPF companies. Many measures being sued over have “proven effective in supporting healthier diets and addressing obesity”, Tedros said, but they remain concentrated in upper-middle- and high-income countries, reflecting broader inequity.
Global action needed
“In 2024, almost 1 billion people, one in seven worldwide, were living with obesity,” Tedros said. He urged governments to continue adopting the public health measures they are being sued over. “Momentum for change is building, and WHO remains committed to supporting these efforts every step of the way.”
