WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says major food companies are suing governments to delay or weaken public health measures aimed at curbing obesity.
Key facts
- •Nearly 1 billion people worldwide were living with obesity in 2024.
- •Ultra-processed foods now account for half of the average diet in countries including the UK, US, and Australia.
- •Food labelling was the most common policy targeted by lawsuits, followed by junk food taxes and marketing restrictions.
- •Three-quarters of the lawsuits were filed by ultra-processed food companies or their representative trade groups.
- •Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on companies to drop legal challenges to support public health efforts.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has accused major ultra-processed food corporations of obstructing global efforts to address the obesity crisis. According to a multi-country investigation, these companies are frequently suing governments that attempt to implement health regulations, such as warning labels and junk food taxes. Tedros stated that these legal challenges cost countries billions in healthcare and legal expenses while delaying vital public health protections.
By the numbers
Scale of Legal Challenges
An investigation by the Guardian and various academic partners identified 235 lawsuits filed between 2010 and 2025 across Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, the US, and the UK. While governments won three-quarters of the resolved cases, the litigation process often delayed the implementation of health policies for years. The report notes that these legal battles have amounted to nearly 600 cumulative years of litigation, averaging 2.5 years per case.
Industry Tactics and Impact
The investigation found that 38% of identifiable lawsuits were brought by eight major corporations, including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Mondelēz, Kellogg’s, Danone, Ferrero, Xignux, and Heartland Food Products Group. Tedros argued that these tactics create a 'regulatory chill,' deterring other governments from adopting similar health measures. He urged companies to end such litigation if they are genuinely committed to addressing the global obesity crisis, which currently affects nearly 1 billion people.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Guardian Health.
