Unsafe food drives 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths annually, with under-fives hit hardest
WHO estimates unsafe food causes about 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths annually, with children under five at almost triple the risk and making up about one-third of cases; chemical hazards like arsenic and lead drive most deaths, mainly in Africa and South-East Asia, while productivity losses reach US$310 billion (rising to US$647 billion after cost-of-living adjustments). The analysis covers 42 hazards across 194 countries (2000–2021) and calls for stronger prevention, surveillance, and a One Health approach ahead of World Food Safety Day 2026.
