"From burden to solutions - safe food everywhere"

Foodborne diseases may affect everyone everywhere, and understanding the extent of the burden allows national authorities and business owners to take targeted action. Reliable data on the health burden of unsafe food is the foundation for evidence-based policies, coordinated multisectoral action, and informed consumer choices.

Everyone in the food chain—from farmers and producers, to transporters, retailers, food inspectors, cooks and consumers—benefits from science and clear guidance on how to prevent contamination and illness. Governments can translate data into cost-effective policies and interventions, food businesses can improve practices, and individuals can make evidence-based decisions. This World Food Safety Day we emphasize that health data is power: understanding the magnitude, distribution and impact of risks in food allows us to make food as safe as possible.

Sustained commitment, supported by robust data and science, can help address the burden of foodborne disease through practical solutions, ensuring that food is safe for everyone, everywhere and appropriate health services are provided to those affected.

The first steps in ensuring food safety is to identify who the most affected are, where they are, and why they are getting sick. Measuring the public health impact of unsafe food and ranking them by causative agents helps identify priorities for action. The burden data helps national stakeholders develop specific interventions and allocate resources. Risk managers can use this information to identify the global food safety standards that will work most effectively for their situation.

  WHO foodborne disease estimates

In 2026, WHO will release the most comprehensive global, regional, and first-ever national estimates of the foodborne disease burden (2000-2021). These estimates highlight where the burden is greater by ranking harmful agents in food, helping governments prioritize risk management measures and resource allocation for consumer protection. The 2026 edition will provide the first such national-level estimates. This will fill a huge data gap and empower countries to strengthen national food control systems and reduce future burden. The report will also include the economic burden estimates of foodborne diseases.

  “Food safety is everyone’s business”

Food supply chains involve several people: producers, processors, transporters, distributors, retailers, cooks as well as consumers.
At every point in the chain, there are hazards that can cause contamination. Everyone involved at the various stages has a responsibility to keep food safe.

There are five calls to action on World Food Safety Day:

• 1. Ensure it’s safe - Governments must ensure safe and nutritious food for all
• 2. Grow it safe - Agriculture and food producers need to adopt good practices
• 3. Keep it safe - Business operators must make sure food is safe
• 4. Know what’s safe - Consumers need to learn about safe and healthy food
• 5. Team up for food safety – Let’s work together for safe food and good health!