The World Health Organization warns that more than 860 million people fall ill and 1.5 million die each year from unsafe food. The report, released ahead of World Food Safety Day on June 7, highlights the staggering human and economic toll of foodborne disease.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: "Food safety is not an abstract issue - it touches every meal, every family, every day." The report estimates that foodborne illness led to $310 billion in lost productivity in 2021.
Children under five are disproportionately affected, accounting for 29% of the health burden and 143,000 deaths in 2021. They face three times the risk compared to older children and adults.
The African and South-East Asian regions account for nearly three-quarters of all foodborne illnesses and 60% of deaths globally. The WHO says improved water, sanitation, and food safety practices could prevent many of these deaths. Climate change is expected to worsen the threat.