Nutrition and Food Safety
The Nutrition and Food Safety (NFS) Department is addressing the burden of disease from physical, chemical and microbial hazards in food and unhealthy diets, maternal and child malnutrition, overweight and obesity.

Foodborne Disease Estimates

Pathogenic agents in food, whether they are microbial (such as viruses, bacteria and parasites) or chemical (from toxins and heavy metals to pesticide residues and veterinary drugs) carry risks to human health.

The World Health Assembly (WHA), through Resolution WHA73.5, mandated the World Health Organization (WHO) to regularly monitor and report to Member States on the global burden of foodborne and zoonotic diseases at national, regional, and international levels and measure the impact of the WHO Global Strategy for Food Safety 2022-2030.

In 2006, the WHO initiative to estimate the global burden of foodborne diseases was launched, and in 2007 WHO established the technical advisory group Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group (FERG) to advise WHO on the methodology to estimate the global burden of foodborne diseases. 

Download the latest estimates

Street food in Viet Nam
WHO / Matthew Dakin
Street food in Viet Nam.
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