The head of the World Health Organization says the world’s largest ultra-processed food companies are undermining global efforts to tackle the obesity crisis by taking governments to court over policies aimed at improving diets.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters the companies’ actions are delaying or weakening public-health measures and imposing heavy costs on governments through both legal fees and increased illness. The remarks accompanied a multi-outlet investigation that documented hundreds of legal challenges to food-policy reforms over the past 15 years.
Investigation finds hundreds of legal challenges
The investigation, led by the Guardian with academic and newsroom partners, identified 235 lawsuits filed against health policies targeting ultra-processed foods in five countries — Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, the United States and the United Kingdom — between 2010 and 2025. Those policies included front-of-pack warning labels, restrictions on marketing and advertising of unhealthy products, and taxes on junk food.
Public statements from many major food companies say they support policies that help consumers make informed choices and that they want to be part of the solution. But the investigation found that the same companies have at times sought to overturn, delay or dilute such measures through litigation.
“When harm and profit are tied to the same product, a familiar pattern of industry interference emerges: sowing doubt and obstructing regulation,” Tedros said.
Scale and health consequences
The WHO figures cited in the investigation underline the scale of the challenge. Almost 1 billion people worldwide are reported to be living with obesity — a condition that is a major driver of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. The inquiry also noted that consumption of ultra-processed foods is rising and now accounts for roughly half the average diet in many countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia.
Public-health advocates say measures such as clear front-of-pack warnings, limits on marketing to children and fiscal measures are evidence-based approaches to reducing unhealthy food intake. Governments in a growing number of jurisdictions have adopted or proposed such policies in response to the health and economic toll of poor diets.
- 235 — number of lawsuits identified from 2010 to 2025 targeting policies on ultra-processed foods.
- 5 countries — Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, the US and the UK.
- ~1 billion — people worldwide reportedly living with obesity, according to WHO figures cited in the investigation.
Policy implications and costs
The WHO director-general framed the litigation pattern as industry interference that ties corporate profit to products that cause harm. Legal challenges can slow the rollout of new regulations, increase the cost to implementers and create uncertainty that discourages other governments from following suit. The investigation also highlighted the financial burden on countries, which may face both rising healthcare costs from diet-related disease and large legal bills defending public-health rules.
| Metric | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Identified lawsuits (2010–2025) | 235 |
| Countries documented | Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, US, UK |
| People living with obesity (WHO figure cited) | Almost 1 billion |
Those in favour of aggressive food-policy reform say courts should not be used to frustrate evidence-based measures aimed at improving population health. Industry representatives, while often publicly supporting consumer choice and improved information, have disputed elements of regulatory proposals and pursued legal avenues in several jurisdictions.
The dispute highlights a tension between trade and commercial rights on one hand and governments’ responsibilities to protect public health on the other. For countries weighing new restrictions on marketing, labelling or pricing, the investigation underscores the potential for legal pushback and the need to prepare robust legal and policy defences.
Governments and public-health agencies must consider not only the clinical evidence for interventions, but also the political and legal landscape into which reforms will be introduced. The WHO chief’s comments and the cross-border investigation together add pressure for greater transparency about industry tactics and for international cooperation to defend health measures.
As debates about obesity and diet-related disease continue, the interaction between corporate litigation strategies and public-health policymaking will be a central issue for health ministers and legal advisers globally.
