WHO chief says ultra-processed food giants sue governments over obesity policies

World Health Organization head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus criticized the world’s biggest ultra-processed food corporations for suing governments that seek to curb obesity through labeling, advertising limits and taxes. A joint investigation identified 235 lawsuits filed from 2010 to 2025 across Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, the United States and the United Kingdom, with three-quarters of the cases ultimately dismissed. Even unsuccessful actions postponed vital public-health measures for an average of 2.5 years per case, costing countries billions in legal fees and healthcare expenses.

The suits were largely brought by eight parent companies, including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Mondelēz, Kellogg’s, Danone, Ferrero, Xignux and Heartland Food Products Group. Researchers from the Robert and Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Centre and several universities collaborated on the study. Tedros urged the companies to cease litigation and support genuine reform, noting that the delays exacerbate an obesity epidemic affecting nearly one-billion people worldwide.