Estimating the burden of foodborne diseases

Each year worldwide, unsafe food causes 600 million cases of foodborne diseases and 420 000 deaths. 30% of foodborne deaths occur among children under 5 years of age. WHO estimated that 33 million years of healthy lives are lost due to eating unsafe food globally each year, and this number is likely an underestimation.

Foodborne diseases are preventable and WHO has a critical role in taking global leadership in investment and coordinated action across multiple sectors in order to build strong and resilient national food safety systems and provide consumers with tools to make safe food choices. With food safety receiving relatively little political attention, especially in developing countries, having a reliable data on the actual national burden of foodborne diseases is essential to draw public attention and mobilize political will and resources to combat foodborne diseases.

1 in 10 people

fall ill

after eating contaminated food worldwide

Learn more

125 000 children

under 5

die each year due to unsafe food

Press release

US$ 110 billion

lost each year

in productivity and medical expenses resulting from unsafe food in low- and middle income countries

World Bank report

Publications

All →
Microbiological hazards in spices and dried aromatic herbs: meeting report

Spices and dried aromatic herbs impart flavour when added to food, and they may include many parts of the plant, including berries, flowers, leaves,...

Ciguatera poisoning
25 February 2022

Ciguatera poisoning

Ciguatera poisoning is a consequence of eating contaminated seafood. Ciguatera poisoning affects people after they have eaten certain seafood, primarily...

World Food Safety Day 2021: Overview of festivity and creativity

With a theme of ‘Safe food now for a heathy tomorrow’, World Food Safety Day (7 June 2021) focused on the immediate and long-term benefits...

Food control system assessment tool: introductory booklet

National food control system plays a pivotal role in protecting the health of consumers and ensuring fair practices in food trade. When we are able...

Estimating the burden of foodborne diseases: A practical handbook for countries

This handbook provides detailed guidance on assessing the burden of diseases caused by microbiological agents commonly transmitted through foods. It is...

INFOSAN members’ guide: web annex: template for INFOSAN/IHR communication

The following text can serve as a starting point for the development of a national protocol for information sharing among various stakeholders involved...

Joint FAO/WHO expert meeting in collaboration with OIE on foodborne antimicrobial resistance: role of the environment, crops and biocides: meeting report

In recognition of the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), its increasing threat to human, animal and plant health, and the need for a One...

Food control system assessment tool: dimension D: Science / Knowledge base and continuous improvement

Dimension D looks at the necessary features for the system to build its scientific soundness and to keep abreast of new scientific developments and innovations,...

Database

The burden of foodborne diseases is not spread equally across the globe but correlates with the socio-economic development of countries. The global database on foodborne disease burden displays the estimates on an interactive map.

The Foodborne disease burden database search platform is being updated and will be available for users soon. For data requests, contact [email protected].