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In a stark reminder of the global food safety crisis, Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director for South East Asia, revealed that approximately 1.6 million people fall ill each day due to the consumption of unsafe food. This alarming statistic was shared ahead of World Food Safety Day, observed annually on June 7th.
World Food Safety Day was established by the UN General Assembly in 2018 to raise awareness and inspire action to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats associated with unsafe food. This year’s theme, “Prepare for the Unexpected,” underscores the urgent need for robust food safety measures.
“Every day, approximately 1.6 million people worldwide fall ill due to the consumption of unsafe food,” stated Saima Wazed. She highlighted that 40% of those affected are children under five, a demographic already at higher risk of malnutrition and mortality from unsafe food.
Saima emphasized the economic toll of foodborne illnesses, which result in an estimated annual loss of $110 billion in low- and middle-income countries due to reduced productivity and increased medical costs.
The South-East Asia Region, Saima noted, bears the second-highest health burden from contaminated food, trailing only Africa. The region experiences an estimated 150 million illnesses and 175,000 deaths each year due to unsafe food consumption. Contributing factors include the tropical climate, which fosters the spread of pests and the formation of naturally occurring toxins, as well as the broader impacts of climate change.
“Food safety is a collective responsibility,” Saima stressed. “Governments, producers, and consumers all need to play their part in ensuring food safety.”
She urged governments to develop and regularly test the effectiveness of national food safety emergency response plans. She also called on producers and food business operators to implement and update food safety management plans diligently. Consumers, too, have a role to play by practicing safe food handling at home and reporting food safety incidents.
As the world marks World Food Safety Day, the message is clear: ensuring the safety of our food supply requires a concerted and sustained effort from all sectors of society.
