Unsafe food kills 1.5 mn people a year worldwide: WHO

Article excerpt

The World Health Organization warned Thursday that 1.5 million people die annually from contaminated food, a toll disproportionately borne by young children. Harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, and chemicals in the food supply claim more lives each year than many better-known public health threats. The warning underscores the scale of a largely preventable crisis tied to poor sanitation, storage, and handling practices across much of the world. WHO's alert comes as foodborne illness outbreaks continue to emerge in developed and developing nations alike.