From junk to ‘health’: The dangerous spin of Big Food. How Big Food profits from health hype

Large food manufacturers are increasingly positioning themselves as ‘health companies’. But not by making their chocolate, sauces, and desserts less unhealthy —instead, they’re capitalizing on the rising demand for dietary supplements and medications caused by the very unhealthy food they continue to produce.

Recent years have seen unprecedented investments in health products by food companies. Global interest in weight-loss drugs is adding to the trend. In 2024, the WHO called on governments and health organizations to take action against the health-undermining tactics of the food industry.

Bread, chocolate, ice cream, and margarine: everyday products are consumed by millions of people worldwide. But what few consumers know is that the ingredients used to make all these processed foods shelf-stable and appealing may contribute to the development of serious intestinal diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Not coincidentally, food giants Danone and Nestlé also invest in medications for these diseases – the same companies that produce ultra-processed food.

In recent years, food companies like Nestlé, Danone, and Unilever have invested heavily in weight-loss drugs, supplements, and products designed for users of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, aiming to reduce side effects and promote weight loss.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified ultra-processed food as one of the four most harmful industries to health, urging governments to hold these companies accountable. Meanwhile, Big Food continues to profit from the very health problems their products cause.

What if obesity, diabetes, and heart disease aren’t just consequences, but part of a business model?

Read the full investigation published on The Geneva Health Files (in English).

This project has been funded by Journalismfund Europe and Fonds Bijzondere Journalistieke Projecten.