Unsafe food kills 1.5 million people every year, with children becoming more susceptible

The World Health Organization estimates that unsafe food causes 1.5 million deaths and 866 million illnesses annually. Children under five, who make up 9% of the global population, suffer nearly one-third of all foodborne diseases, particularly deadly diarrheal diseases. Chemical hazards such as inorganic arsenic and lead account for 73% of food-related deaths. The economic burden ranges from $310 billion to $647 billion in lost productivity.