- Ultra-processed food (UPF) companies have filed 235 lawsuits from 2010 to 2025 against government policies targeting junk diets, including front-of-pack warning labels, marketing restrictions, and taxes, primarily in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, the US, and the UK.
- Three-quarters of the lawsuits were filed by UPF manufacturers or trade associations, with 38% of identifiable cases brought by eight major corporations including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Mondelēz, though many companies requested anonymity.
- While governments won 75% of resolved cases, the litigation caused delays of up to 600 cumulative years in court, burdening public health systems and prolonging the global health crisis linked to UPF consumption.
- The legal tactics mirror those of the tobacco industry, aiming to slow implementation, deter future policies, and chill regulatory action, with experts noting that UPF firms sue because policies effectively reduce sales of unhealthy products.
- Latin America leads in adopting strong food policies, making it a key battleground; in contrast, the UK faces fewer lawsuits due to weak regulations designed with industry input, leading to policy paralysis from litigation fears.