WHO: Unsafe Food Causes 1.5 Million Deaths and 866 Million Illnesses Every Year

The World Health Organization warns that unsafe food leads to an estimated 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths worldwide each year. Children under five are especially at risk. Contaminants include biological agents like bacteria and parasites, chemical hazards such as heavy metals and toxins, and physical dangers like glass or metal fragments. Exposure to chemicals like lead and methylmercury can damage developing brains and cause lifelong neurological issues. The report finds that chemical hazards accounted for 73% of food-related deaths in 2021, with inorganic arsenic and lead linked to over one million fatalities. Africa and Southeast Asia bear nearly three-quarters of all foodborne illnesses and 60% of global deaths. The economic toll reached about 310 billion dollars in lost productivity. Climate change and rising antimicrobial resistance are worsening these threats.

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