Unsafe food causes 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths annually, WHO reports
Ben Cornwell2026-06-04T14:45:00
WHO estimates find unsafe food causes 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths each year, with children and low-income regions hardest hit.
New figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) find that unsafe food causes up to 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths worldwide every year, underlining the continuing scale of the global food safety challenge.
The analysis, published today, shows that children under five face almost three times the risk of illness from unsafe food compared with older children and adults. Although they make up just 9 percent of the global population, young children account for nearly one-third of all foodborne disease cases.
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