WHO: Ultra-processed food firms sue governments to block health policies

Ultra-processed food corporations are suing national governments to block or delay public-health measures aimed at reducing obesity, according to the World Health Organization.

These legal challenges represent a systemic effort by the food industry to protect market share and profits. By obstructing regulations, companies can maintain the consumption levels of products linked to chronic health issues, effectively stalling national health drives.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, said this on Aug. 1 ^[1]. The WHO said that these corporations use the court system to hinder policies that would limit the availability or promotion of ultra-processed foods ^[1].

Data shows that 235 lawsuits have been filed by these companies against various governments ^[2]. These legal actions have been recorded across five different countries ^[2]. The trend of using litigation to obstruct health regulations is not new, as these cases have been filed since 2010 ^[2].

The WHO said that such tactics create a chilling effect on policymakers. When governments face expensive and prolonged legal battles, they may be less likely to implement strict nutritional guidelines or taxes on unhealthy foods, even when such measures are supported by medical evidence.

The strategy focuses on delaying the implementation of health drives to ensure that corporate profits remain stable. By challenging the legality of public-health mandates, firms can keep processed goods on shelves without the restrictions that health officials said are necessary to combat the global obesity epidemic ^[1].