Unsafe Food Causes Over 600 Million Illnesses, Hundreds of Thousands of Deaths Annually — WHO
The World Health Organization says unsafe food remains a major global health threat, causing around 600 million illnesses and 420,000 deaths each year worldwide, rather than 1.5 million deaths as sometimes reported.
According to WHO’s most widely cited estimates, foodborne diseases—caused by contaminated food containing bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemical substances—affect nearly 1 in 10 people globally each year.
Children under five years old are particularly vulnerable, accounting for about 30% of all deaths linked to unsafe food, despite making up a smaller share of the global population.
While country-specific figures for Nigeria vary and are not always isolated in WHO summaries, public health experts say developing countries—including Nigeria—bear a disproportionate burden due to challenges such as poor food handling practices, weak regulatory enforcement, and limited access to clean water and sanitation.
The WHO emphasizes that most foodborne illnesses are preventable through stronger food safety systems, improved hygiene, and better public awareness, especially across informal food markets common in many African countries.
The claim of 1.5 million deaths annually is therefore not supported by WHO’s verified global data, which places the figure significantly lower but still highlights a major public health concern.
