Big Food vs. the People

Millions of people worldwide succumb to poor dietary habits annually, resulting in colossal health expenses that disproportionately impact communities with limited financial resources. Children, having minimal control over their diet, are especially susceptible to this issue. Governments have attempted to address the public health crisis through legislation requiring food producers to disclose ingredients and limit the promotion of unhealthy products.

While multinational corporations like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Mondelez claim a commitment to resolving this issue, they have covertly opposed public health legislation by challenging these laws in courts. This investigation, conducted in collaboration with researchers from Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, the United States, Australia, and other institutions, has uncovered a troubling pattern of legal tactics employed by these transnational organizations to obstruct health policies in six countries: Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Over 239 lawsuits were filed between 2010 and 2025, amassing a cumulative litigation time of 595 years, a substantial financial burden for governments defending their health policies. Among these cases, more than one-third originated from just nine parent groups, primarily led by Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Mondelez. The consequences of these legal battles extend beyond merely prolonging the health crisis, costing nations billions in both legal and healthcare expenses, and creating an intimidating barrier for policymakers striving to enhance the health of their citizens.

The dataset assembled for this research includes challenges to laws aiming to improve population nutrition between 2010 and 2025 in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, the United States, the United Kingdom, and India, excluding cases where influencers were sued, as they assumed the role of government in promoting transparency in product nutrition.

The study has been carried out in partnership with researchers from the University of Caldas (Colombia), the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center (United States), the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil), and the University of Sydney (Australia). The findings reveal that over a third of Mexican schoolchildren and 41% of adolescents were overweight, the country with the highest number of lawsuits (193 out of 239), primarily targeting the labeling regulation.

Despite the courts rejecting many of the companies' legal arguments, highlighting violations of constitutional rights and potential harm to consumer perceptions, the companies continue to employ legal strategies to delay and weaken public health measures.