WHO Report: Millions Suffer from Unsafe Food Annually

In June 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a sobering report highlighting a global crisis that often stays out of the headlines: unsafe food.

Based on 2021 data, the report estimates that foodborne diseases cause 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths every year.

Beyond the human suffering, this crisis costs the global economy hundreds of billions of dollars in lost productivity.

While biological hazards like bacteria are behind the majority of illnesses, chemical contaminants such as lead and arsenic are responsible for the vast majority of deaths.

Children under five are particularly vulnerable, representing a third of all cases despite being a small fraction of the population.

The impact is not shared equally, with Africa and Southeast Asia facing the heaviest burden.