WHO: Unsafe Food Claims 1.5 Million Lives Each Year, with Young Children Most at Risk

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), consuming food contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites, or harmful chemicals causes approximately 1.5 million deaths worldwide every year. Children under the age of five remain among the most vulnerable groups.

In an analysis covering 194 countries between 2000 and 2021, WHO experts found that around 886 million people suffer from foodborne illnesses each year. Young children were nearly three times more likely to become ill than adults.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that food safety is not an abstract concern but a daily risk factor that affects every family and every meal.

Although the overall number of foodborne illnesses has declined since the early 2000s, the global burden remains highly uneven. Nearly 75% of all reported cases occur in Africa and Southeast Asia, which also account for approximately 60% of all deaths linked to foodborne infections.

According to the report, about 860 million cases of illness caused by biological hazards—including bacteria and viruses—were recorded in 2021. However, chemical contaminants, including arsenic and lead poisoning, were responsible for the largest share of fatalities.

WHO experts note that the problem is being intensified by two major global challenges: climate change, which increases the risk of food contamination, and the growing spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, making infections more difficult to treat.

Beyond its impact on health, foodborne disease also carries a significant economic cost.

Researchers estimate that the global economy lost approximately $647 billion in 2021 due to reduced productivity and the consequences of illnesses associated with unsafe food.

WHO stresses that improving food safety standards remains one of the key priorities for global public health, particularly in countries with limited resources.

Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter