The World Health Organization says unsafe food causes about 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths each year, with young children most at risk. The updated estimates were released on June 4, 2026, ahead of World Food Safety Day.
The World Health Organization released updated global estimates on June 4 saying unsafe food causes about 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths every year.
The agency said young children are at highest risk. It also said foodborne disease remains a major public health burden and a drag on productivity worldwide.
The announcement comes ahead of World Food Safety Day on June 7.
WHO said the new 2026 edition updates assessments for 42 major foodborne hazards and uses improved methods to estimate illness, death and overall burden from contaminated food.
The agency said foodborne disease caused about US$310 billion in lost productivity in 2021.
WHO linked the release to a webinar on June 4 presenting key findings from the 2026 edition.
The updated figures provide a fresh global health warning about the scale of food safety failures and the disproportionate risk facing children.
Revision note
Initial automated publication.