WHO accuses food giants of using courts to block health laws Ultra-processed food firms blamed for delaying action on obesityThe world's biggest ultra-processed food companies are being accused of using the courts to delay or weaken laws designed to tackle obesity, with the World Health Organization warning that legal battles are costing governments billions while prolonging a global health crisis. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said major food manufacturers were following a familiar pattern of protecting profits by challenging public health measures through lengthy litigation rather than supporting healthier diets. His comments follow a major international investigation which found companies behind many of the world's best-known food and drink brands launched 235 legal challenges against health policies in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, the United States and Britain between 2010 and 2025. Lawsuits slow health reformsThe investigation found corporations frequently challenged front-of-pack warning labels, junk food taxes and restrictions on advertising unhealthy products. Although governments ultimately won around three-quarters of the cases, the legal disputes delayed new health measures for an average of two-and-a-half years per lawsuit, creating almost 600 cumulative years of litigation. Tedros warned the delays had saddled countries with billions of dollars in healthcare and legal costs while discouraging other governments from introducing similar reforms. "When harm and profit are tied to the same product, a familiar pattern of industry interference emerges," he said. Biggest brands namedAccording to the investigation, companies linked to Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Mondelēz, Kellogg's, Danone, Ferrero, Xignux and Heartland Food Products Group accounted for 38 per cent of identifiable corporate lawsuits. Researchers also found some companies sought to keep their identities hidden during legal proceedings. Tedros acknowledged that several major manufacturers have reformulated products to improve nutrition, but said meaningful progress also requires companies to stop fighting public health legislation in court. Obesity crisis growingThe WHO estimates almost one billion people worldwide are now living with obesity, with ultra-processed foods making up around half of the average diet in countries including Britain, the United States and Australia. Health experts increasingly support measures such as warning labels, advertising restrictions and taxes on unhealthy foods, arguing they have already shown measurable benefits in countries that have adopted them. Tedros urged governments not to be deterred by legal threats and to continue introducing policies designed to improve diets and reduce obesity, saying global momentum for stronger public health protections is continuing to grow. SOURCE
