WHO Report Links Unsafe Food to 1.5 Million Annual Deaths Worldwide

A new World Health Organization assessment covering 194 countries from 2000 to 2021 estimates that unsafe food causes around 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths each year. Children under five are disproportionately affected, accounting for almost a third of cases and being nearly three times more likely to fall ill than older age groups.

The report highlights that chemical contaminants – particularly inorganic arsenic, lead and methylmercury – are responsible for roughly 73 % of food‑related deaths. It calls on governments, producers and regulators to strengthen food‑safety measures, improve surveillance and adopt a One‑Health approach to reduce the global burden of foodborne disease.