Unsafe food causes 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths annually, young children at highest risk

Key points

• Children aged less than five years face almost three times the risk of illness from unsafe food than older children and adults, according to new estimates released today by the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Despite being just 9% of the global population, young children suffer from nearly one third of all cases of foodborne diseases, particularly diarrhoeal diseases which can be deadly for this vulnerable age group.
• In addition, exposure to chemical hazards such as methylmercury and lead in food can harm the developing brain and cause lifelong neurological and developmental problems in children.
• WHO estimates that unsafe food causes around 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths annually, many of which could be prevented with measures including improved water, sanitation and hygiene, food safety practices such as pasteurization and access to health care for vulnerable populations.
• Although the total foodborne disease burden has declined since 2000, major regional inequalities...