WHO Report Accuses Major Industries of Undermining Global Health Policies

On September 18, 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a report accusing major corporations in the tobacco, alcohol, and ultra-processed food industries of employing aggressive lobbying tactics to obstruct, weaken, or delay health policies aimed at combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer and heart disease. The report highlights that these industries often oppose measures like health taxes and marketing restrictions designed to reduce the consumption of harmful products.

Dr. Etienne Krug, Director of the WHO’s Department of Health Determinants, Promotion, and Prevention, stated, "It is unacceptable that commercial interests are profiting from increasing deaths and disease." He urged governments to prioritize public health over corporate profits and to ensure that evidence-based policies are not derailed by corporate pressure.

The WHO's findings underscore a critical public health concern: the obstruction of life-saving health policies by powerful industries. This interference has profound societal implications, including increased mortality and morbidity. The consumption of products from these industries contributes to millions of deaths annually. For instance, ultra-processed foods and alcohol are linked to 19 million deaths worldwide each year, accounting for 34% of global deaths.

The economic burden associated with treating NCDs is substantial. The WHO suggests that a modest investment of $3 per person in health reforms could potentially save over 12 million lives and yield $1 trillion in economic benefits by 2030. Despite these findings, industry representatives assert their support for constructive dialogue and harm reduction strategies. However, health groups express concern over the dilution of health policies due to corporate influence.

The WHO report provides a comprehensive analysis of how major corporations in the alcohol, tobacco, and ultra-processed food sectors influence health policies. Key points include the use of intense lobbying efforts to block, weaken, or delay health reforms. Tactics include opposing health taxes and marketing restrictions aimed at reducing the consumption of harmful products.

The aggressive lobbying by these industries raises concerns about the integrity of public health policies and the potential prioritization of corporate profits over public well-being. The obstruction of life-saving health policies by powerful industries has profound societal implications, including increased mortality and morbidity.

The WHO's report sheds light on the significant influence of major industries on global health policies and underscores the urgent need for governments to prioritize public health over corporate interests. Implementing evidence-based health reforms has the potential to save millions of lives and yield substantial economic benefits, highlighting the importance of resisting undue corporate influence in policy-making.