WHO: Unsafe food kills 1.5 million people a year

WHO Warns Unsafe Food Kills 1.5 Million People Every Year

The World Health Organization released new estimates on June 4 showing that contaminated food causes roughly 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths globally each year, with children under five facing the greatest risk. The findings, published ahead of World Food Safety Day on June 7, represent a sharp upward revision from WHO’s previous estimate of 420,000 annual deaths based on 2010 data.inquirer

Children Bear Disproportionate Burden

Children under five years old face nearly three times the risk of illness from unsafe food compared to older children and adults, the WHO said. The new report drew on approximately 25,000 data points from thousands of studies across 194 countries, covering the period from 2000 to 2021.technoserve

While biological hazards such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites caused the majority of foodborne illnesses — about 860 million cases in 2021 — chemical exposures drove a disproportionate share of deaths. Chemical hazards accounted for 73 percent of deaths from contaminated food in 2021, with arsenic and lead poisoning identified as the primary non-biological threats.who

Regional Inequalities Persist

Although the total global burden of foodborne disease has declined since 2000, major regional disparities remain. Africa and South-East Asia together account for nearly three-quarters of all foodborne illnesses and 60 percent of global deaths, according to the WHO. Beyond the toll on human health, the report estimates that foodborne disease led to about $310 billion in lost productivity in 2021 due to time away from work.environewsnigeria

The WHO said many of these deaths could be prevented through improved water, sanitation and hygiene practices, food safety measures such as pasteurization, and better access to health care for vulnerable populations.who

A Landmark in Food Safety Data

The 2026 estimates mark a turning point in global food safety research. WHO had previously delayed the report’s release from late 2025 after an extended consultation with member states. The publication coincides with the 2026 World Food Safety Day theme, “From burden to solutions — safe food everywhere,” which WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization developed to highlight how disease data can guide cost-effective interventions.fao

Evolving diets, environmental pressures, globalization, and inequalities in food systems continue to shape who is most exposed to unsafe food, the WHO said, with people living in low-resource communities bearing the greatest health burden.who