WHO Publishes New Global Estimates on Foodborne Illnesses and Deaths

On 4 June 2026 the World Health Organization released its latest assessment of food safety, covering 42 hazards in 194 countries for 2000-2021. It estimates 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths in 2021, with children under five (9 % of the population) accounting for nearly one-third of cases. Biological agents caused about 860 million illnesses; chemical contaminants were linked to 73 % of deaths.

Unsafe food causes 1.5M deaths, 866M illnesses annually: WHO

Earlier WHO estimates omitted many chemical hazards. This study adds metals such as inorganic arsenic and lead, methylmercury, rotavirus and the parasite *Trypanosoma cruzi*, allowing countries to see where the burden is highest for the first time.

WHO Warns Unsafe Food Behind Millions of Illnesses and Deaths Worldwide

Key figures: 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths annually; chemical hazards caused 73 % of deaths, with inorganic arsenic and lead together responsible for over 1 million deaths (42 % and 31 %). Africa and Southeast Asia account for roughly 75 % of illnesses and 60 % of deaths. Economic loss was US $310 billion in lost productivity in 2021, rising to US $647 billion after cost-of-living adjustment.

Unsafe food causes 1.5M deaths, 866M illnesses annually: WHO

The high burden on children under five reflects vulnerability to severe diarrhoeal disease and neurotoxic chemicals such as lead and methylmercury, which can impair brain development. Regional disparities underscore sanitation, health-care and food-system gaps in Africa and Southeast Asia. The productivity loss highlights how foodborne disease hampers economic development.

Unsafe food claims 1.5m lives annually: WHO

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that food safety influences every household’s daily meals and urged improvements in water, sanitation, hygiene, safer food handling and greater health-care access. Technical officer Yuki Minato, also senior author of the Lancet Global Health paper, called for a One Health approach, warned that climate change and antimicrobial resistance heighten risks, and recommended stronger surveillance, tighter industrial controls and coordinated action across health, agriculture and environment.

Unsafe food claims 1.5m lives annually: WHO

All sources agree on the figures; no contradictory data appear. The report notes limited evidence on the effectiveness of specific interventions in low-resource settings, indicating a research gap.

WHO Warns Unsafe Food Behind Millions of Illnesses and Deaths Worldwide

• “Food safety is not an abstract issue – it touches every meal, every family, every day.” — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General

Unsafe food causes 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths annually, WHO reports

• “For the first time, countries have their own data to see where the burden is highest.” — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General

Unsafe food causes 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths annually, WHO reports

• “This report is a wake-up call – but also a roadmap,” — Yuki Minato, WHO technical officer for food safety

Unsafe Food Causes 1.5 Million Deaths Globally Each Year – WHO

• “Delay costs lives,” — Yuki Minato, WHO technical officer for food safety

Unsafe food claims 1.5m lives annually: WHO

The WHO urges governments to boost surveillance, enforce stricter food-safety rules and invest in cross-sector coordination before World Food Safety Day on 7 June 2026. The agency expects the new estimates to guide targeted actions and track progress in lowering the global burden of unsafe food.

Unsafe food causes 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths annually, WHO reports