Source: UN News: Tuesday, 09 June 2026 00:01 AM
The risk of children under five becoming sick from unsafe food is almost three times higher than that of older children and adults. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned in a new analysis that this problem is responsible for 1.5 million deaths worldwide every year. According to the UN health agency, young children make up only 9 percent of the global population, but they account for 33 percent of all cases of food-borne illness, especially diarrheal diseases, which can prove fatal for their age group. Additionally, exposure to chemical exposures, such as methylmercury and lead in food, can harm their brain development and cause life-long neurological problems. And can cause development problems. Tweet URL
WHO The WHO estimates that unsafe food causes 866 million cases of disease and 1.5 million deaths each year, the majority of which can be addressed through prevention measures. These require improved water, sanitation, hygiene, food safety practices, and health care facilities for vulnerable populations. The burden of food-borne disease has declined since the early 2000s, but regional disparities remain, with the greatest burden seen in Africa and Southeast Asia. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the UN health agency, said food security is not just an ideological issue, but one that matters for every diet, every family and every day. “Unsafe food has always been a major public health concern, but until now we have lacked a big picture that explains its human and economic burden. These new estimates will change that.” According to the report, food-borne In the year 2021, 86 crore cases of diseases were recorded due to bacteria, viruses and parasites. But chemical contamination was mainly responsible for deaths (73 percent) due to unsafe food. Inorganic arsenic and lead are major causes, as long-term exposure increases the risk of heart disease and cancer. In one year, these two substances were a factor in more than 1 million deaths. Health and economic burden World Health Organization According to the WHO, more than 70 percent of food-borne illness cases are reported in Africa and Southeast Asia. It accounts for 60 percent of deaths globally. Children and people living in low-resource areas are most at risk, reflecting widespread inequalities in food systems, health care and sanitation. Its impact is not limited to health. According to the UN agency, food-borne diseases caused losses of $310 billion in 2021, as people were unable to come to work due to illness. This situation may worsen due to climate change, and the risk of food contamination increases. Antimicrobial resistance is another challenge. In view of this, the UN agency hopes that this analysis will help Member States to adopt concrete measures, strengthen surveillance and enhance cooperation in health, agriculture and environment sectors.