Unsafe Food Kills 1.5 Million People Yearly, Young Children Face Highest Risk – WHO
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
A meal meant to nourish can sometimes become a silent threat, and young children are paying the highest price.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that unsafe food causes an estimated 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths globally every year, with children under five among the most vulnerable victims.
According to new WHO estimates released ahead of World Food Safety Day 2026, children under five face nearly three times the risk of falling ill from contaminated food compared to older children and adults.
Although they make up just nine per cent of the world’s population, they account for almost one-third of all foodborne disease cases.
The report found that biological hazards such as bacteria, viruses and parasites caused about 860 million illnesses in 2021.
However, chemical contaminants including lead, inorganic arsenic and methylmercury were responsible for 73 per cent of food-related deaths, contributing to heart disease, cancers and lifelong developmental problems in children.
WHO noted that Africa and South-East Asia bear the heaviest burden, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all foodborne illnesses and 60 per cent of global deaths linked to unsafe food.
Director-General of WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the findings as a wake-up call, saying the new data gives governments a clearer picture of the human and economic toll of unsafe food and the urgent actions needed to protect public health.
Beyond the health impact, the agency estimated that foodborne diseases led to about $310 billion in lost productivity in 2021, a figure that rises to $647 billion when adjusted for differences in living costs across countries.
WHO is urging governments to strengthen food safety systems, improve sanitation and hygiene, tighten environmental controls, and adopt a One Health approach that links human, animal and environmental health to reduce the growing burden of foodborne diseases.
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