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Unsafe food kills 1.5 million people a year worldwide: WHO
Biological hazards caused most illnesses, while chemical contamination drove most deaths, and children under five faced nearly one-third of cases, WHO said.
- A Lancet study published Wednesday found foodborne illnesses caused an estimated 1.5 million deaths worldwide in 2021, prompting the World Health Organization to warn of ongoing global health threats from contaminated food.
- Climate change and antimicrobial resistance are worsening foodborne diseases, WHO technical officer Yuki Minato noted, while massive regional inequalities in food safety systems persist despite overall declines since 2000.
- Africa and Asia account for nearly three-quarters of all cases and 60 percent of deaths worldwide, according to the United Nations, while the study estimates foodborne diseases cost the global economy $647 billion in lost productivity in 2021.
- WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, "Food safety is not an abstract issue—it touches every meal, every family, every day," emphasizing that young children, the elderly, and pregnant individuals face heightened vulnerability.
- Simple precautions like proper food handling and refrigerating items within two hours can reduce risks, as Tufts University School of Medicine experts advise avoiding undercooked meat, raw flour, and unpasteurized dairy.
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According to the WHO report, 1.5 million people die from contaminated food every year – especially the global South is affected
Unsafe food kills 1.5M people a year worldwide – WHO
GENEVA — Food contaminated with harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemicals kills 1.5 million people worldwide each year, with young children worst hit, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Thursday.After analyzing 194 countries between 2000 and 2021, the United Nations health agency found that 886 million people contract an illness linked to the consumption of unsafe food a year, with under-fives nearly three times more likely to…
·Manila, Philippines (the)
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources66
Leaning Left6Leaning Right9Center12Last UpdatedBias Distribution45% Center
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources are Center
45% Center
L 22%
C 45%
R 33%
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