Over 200 diseases are caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites and toxins.

These diseases contribute significantly to the global burden of disease and mortality.

Foodborne diseases are caused by contamination of food and occur at any stage of the food production, delivery and consumption chain.

They can also be the result of contaminated water.

Food borne-diseases are a global problem.

• Africa: 91 million acute illnesses every year, resulting in 137 000 deaths.
• Asia-Pacific: 275 million people ill, resulting in 175 000 deaths.
• Europe: 23 million ill every year, resulting in 4 654 deaths.
• United States: 9.4 million ill every year, resulting in 55 961 hospitalizations, and 1 351 deaths.

Children under 5 are most heavily affected.

Every year, nearly one in 10 people becomes ill after eating contaminated food, resulting in over 420 000 deaths.

Children are disproportionately affected, with 125 000 deaths every year in children under 5 years of age.

The majority of these cases are caused by diarrheal diseases. Other serious consequences of food-borne diseases include kidney and liver failure, brain and neural disorders, arthritis, cancer, and death.