340 children under 5 die from preventable food-borne illnesses

Every day, 340 children under the age of 5 die from preventable food-borne illnesses, highlighting an alarming problem facing the planet. The UN's World Health Agency sounded the alarm on Tuesday about the growing prevalence of illnesses caused by the consumption of unfit food, affecting almost 1.6 million people every day.

More than 200 illnesses, ranging from diarrhoea to cancer, are attributed to the consumption of food contaminated by bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemicals. The seriousness of the situation is highlighted by the fact that an average of 340 children die every day.

Dr Francesco Branca, Director of Nutrition and Food Safety at the World Health Organization (WHO), told a press conference that "every day, an estimated 1.6 million people around the world fall ill after eating unsafe food". These alarms come on the eve of the 5th World Food Safety Day, celebrated on 7 June 2023, which will focus on food standards.

Food-borne illness affects 1 in 10 people worldwide every year. Food standards are essential to ensure the safety of what we eat, but also to reduce food-related illnesses. Food-borne illnesses are responsible for 420,000 preventable deaths.

Access to safe, nutritious and healthy food is a fundamental human right, and food safety is crucial to ensuring good health. Governments must ensure that the food available meets safety standards, thereby guaranteeing food quality and safety.

In collaboration with the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), the WHO leads global expert groups and provides scientific advice to develop food standards and protect the health of consumers worldwide.

World Food Security Day comes at a time of global crisis. According to the FAO, 828 million people suffer from chronic food insecurity, and food conflicts have increased considerably in recent years. Food insecurity is closely linked to the risk of food-related diseases. Vulnerable populations are the hardest hit by this scourge.

Ultimately, it is important to remember the strong correlation between food insecurity and exposure to the risk of food-related diseases. UN agencies provide support to vulnerable countries around the world, contributing to the development of food security policies and investment strategies in this crucial area.