Food Safety: Food plates are becoming a cause of death! 1.5 million children die every year from spoiled food, WHO releases report
Food Safety: Every year, millions of people fall ill, and a large number also die. Most worryingly, young children are becoming the biggest victims of this danger.
Food Safety: A new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed shocking statistics regarding food safety. According to the report, millions of people are falling ill every year due to dirty and spoiled food, while a large number of people are also losing their lives. The most worrying thing is that small children are becoming the biggest victims of this danger. The risk of diseases caused by spoiled food in children under the age of five is almost three times higher than in older children and adults. These children constitute only 9 percent of the total world population, but they are associated with nearly one-third of the cases of foodborne diseases.
Why are young children most at risk?
According to a WHO report, young children's immune systems are not fully developed. This is why they are more susceptible to bacteria, viruses, and parasites present in spoiled food. Many diseases caused by spoiled food are associated with diarrhea. Diarrhea can be fatal for young children because it depletes the body of water and essential nutrients.
Millions of people fell ill in 2021
According to the report, in 2021 alone, approximately 866 million people worldwide fell ill due to contaminated food, and approximately 1.5 million died. Experts believe that a significant number of these deaths and illnesses could have been prevented. This risk could be significantly reduced if clean water is available, food is prepared and stored properly, hygiene is maintained, and timely treatment is provided.
The chemicals present in food are so dangerous
People often think that spoiled food only means infection from bacteria or viruses, but WHO has warned that some chemicals present in food can also be very dangerous. Chemicals like lead and methylmercury can harm the growing brains of children. This can have long-term effects on children's mental development, learning ability and nervous system. Experts say that chemical pollution is often overlooked, while its effects can sometimes last a lifetime.
How are chemicals the biggest cause of foodborne disease deaths?
The report states that most cases of foodborne illness are caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites, but chemical contamination is the most common cause of deaths. In 2021, chemical hazards accounted for approximately 73 percent of all deaths related to contaminated food. Of these, inorganic arsenic and lead were the most common causes. Both these elements increase the risk of serious diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer. According to the WHO, approximately 42 percent of foodborne disease deaths were linked to inorganic arsenic, while 31 percent were linked to lead exposure.
What did WHO say?
The WHO stated that food safety is not a simple issue. It concerns every family and every day's food. They stated that contaminated food has long been a major public health challenge, but new data now shows the significant impact it is having on people and the economy. The report also revealed significant disparities between regions of the world. Although the overall burden of foodborne diseases has declined somewhat since 2000, Africa and Southeast Asia remain among the most affected. These regions account for approximately 75 percent of global foodborne diseases and nearly 60 percent of deaths. The impact of contaminated food is not limited to health. According to the WHO, in 2021, contaminated food caused significant losses to the global economy. The loss of productivity due to illness caused approximately US$310 billion in lost work.
The challenge may increase further.
The WHO says that climate change, environmental pollution, and growing antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics could further complicate the food safety challenge. The report studied 42 major food hazards in 194 countries between 2000 and 2021. These included bacteria, viruses, parasites, and chemical contaminants. Experts believe that with better data and monitoring systems, countries can identify the biggest food safety threats and take necessary action in time.