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Mumbai.Food Giants Spend 600 Years in Court, WHO Says Legal Battles Weaken Global Fight Against Obesity Campaign

The world's biggest ultra-processed food companies are using courts to delay government health policies, weakening the global fight against obesity, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has accused major food brands of dragging governments into lengthy legal disputes over public health measures, forcing countries to spend huge sums on legal and healthcare costs while delaying reforms designed to reduce obesity.

Although governments win most of these cases, WHO says the prolonged litigation itself has become a powerful tool to stall health policies for years.

Warning labels face strongest legal opposition

A new multi-country investigation found that governments have spent a combined 600 years fighting legal battles launched by food companies against public health regulations. The study, conducted by The Guardian in collaboration with researchers from the Robert and Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center, the University of Sydney, the University of Sao Paulo and Caldas University, found that each lawsuit lasts an average of two-and-a-half years.

The investigation showed governments emerged victorious in nearly three-fourths of all decided cases. Yet, WHO argues that companies still achieve their main objective by delaying the implementation of health measures.

Key findings include:

• Around 75% of concluded cases ended in favour of governments.
• Average duration of each lawsuit is about 2.5 years.
• Combined litigation time has crossed 600 years globally.

Court delays slow obesity prevention policies

The investigation found that the strongest legal resistance was directed against front-of-pack warning labels on unhealthy food products. Companies also frequently challenged taxes on junk food and restrictions on advertising and marketing aimed at children and consumers.

Tedros said that if food companies genuinely wanted to support efforts against obesity, they should stop using litigation to block evidence-based public health policies. According to WHO estimates, nearly one billion people worldwide—roughly one in every seven individuals—were living with obesity in 2024.

Governments see better health outcomes

WHO says countries that have introduced warning labels, unhealthy food taxes and tighter advertising rules have reported better public health outcomes. These measures encourage healthier food choices while discouraging excessive consumption of highly processed products linked to obesity and lifestyle diseases.

The investigation suggests legal challenges have become one of the biggest hurdles in implementing these policies despite scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness.

Eight global firms behind major lawsuits

Researchers found that among cases where companies were publicly identified, 38% were linked to just eight multinational parent companies. These include Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Mondelez, Kellogg's, Danone, Ferrero, JBS and Heartland Food Products Group.

Key observations:

• Eight companies accounted for 38% of identified lawsuits.
• Some firms sought anonymity in court proceedings.
• Governments remained the winners in most concluded cases.

WHO believes greater transparency and faster legal processes are essential to ensure that public health policies are implemented without prolonged delays caused by corporate litigation.