WHO: Children under five face highest risk from unsafe food (opens original article in a new tab)

The WHO reports that children under five are at highest risk from unsafe food, with 866 million annual illnesses and 1.5 million deaths linked to foodborne diseases, particularly chemical hazards like arsenic and lead.

• Children under five face three times the risk of illness from unsafe food compared to older children and adults
• Unsafe food causes 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths annually, with 73% of deaths linked to chemical hazards
• New estimates include hazards like metals, rotavirus, and Chagas disease, highlighting long-term health impacts