The World Health Organisation (World Health Organization) has warned that unsafe food remains a major global public health crisis, contributing to an estimated 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths every year worldwide.
In a new report released Thursday, the agency said food contamination continues to pose severe risks, particularly to children under five, who are nearly three times more likely to suffer foodborne illnesses than older age groups.
Although young children represent only about 9 per cent of the global population, they account for almost one-third of all foodborne disease cases, especially severe diarrhoeal infections that can be fatal.
The WHO noted that exposure to harmful chemicals such as lead, methylmercury, and inorganic arsenic in food is also responsible for long-term health complications, including brain damage, developmental disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers.
According to the report, biological hazards like bacteria, viruses, and parasites caused about 860 million illnesses in 2021, while chemical contamination accounted for a significant share of deaths linked to unsafe food.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the findings as a wake-up call, stressing that food safety affects every individual daily.
“Food safety is not an abstract issue; it touches every meal, every family, every day,” Tedros said, noting that governments now have clearer data to guide interventions aimed at reducing the burden.
The report also revealed that Africa and South-East Asia bear the heaviest burden, accounting for nearly three-quarters of global foodborne illnesses and 60 per cent of related deaths, driven largely by weak sanitation systems and limited healthcare access.
WHO technical officer and senior report author, Yuki Minato, warned that climate change and antimicrobial resistance are worsening the crisis, making contamination more widespread and infections harder to treat.
She called for a “One Health” approach that integrates human, animal, plant, and environmental health to effectively tackle food safety challenges.
The agency further estimated that foodborne diseases resulted in about $310 billion in productivity losses globally in 2021, rising to $647 billion when adjusted for purchasing power differences.
The report reviewed 42 major foodborne hazards across 194 countries between 2000 and 2021 and called on governments to strengthen food safety regulations, improve agricultural practices, expand surveillance systems, and invest in sanitation infrastructure.
WHO warned that failure to act swiftly would continue to cost millions of lives, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
