The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have revealed the theme of World Food Safety Day (WFSD) 2026: “From Burden to Solutions—Safe Food Everywhere.” Since 2018, WFSD has been held annually on June 7 to raise awareness about the importance of food safety.

The theme of WFSD 2026 stresses the role of data and science in guiding action. New WHO foodborne disease estimates, which will be released ahead of June 7, will provide a strong evidence base for the campaign and its events. The 2026 campaign encourages all stakeholders along the food chain to make evidence-based decisions about foodborne disease incidence when finding solutions.

The anticipated 2026 Edition of the WHO Foodborne Disease Estimates build upon previous experiences and methods from the 2010 Estimates (First Edition). The updated estimates will be released alongside an interactive dashboard and updated Global Health Observatory pages with national estimates by hazard, providing global, regional, and first-ever national estimates of foodborne illness, death, and public health burden expressed as disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from 2000–2021. The report is based on globally collected data in relation to a range of foodborne hazards and outcomes by hazard, which will help countries prioritize focus.

WFSD 2026 also promotes solutions to alleviate the burden of foodborne illnesses. The new WHO estimates will help make a case for political commitment and targeted multisectoral responses proportional to the public health burden. The implementation of Codex Alimentarius texts, and other effective risk mitigation measures such as strong national food control systems and safe food handling practices, can play a consequential role in tackling foodborne disease.

The WFSD 2026 communication toolkit can be found on FAO’s website, including resources to help stakeholders and advocates participate in the day of recognition. Additional campaign materials are also coming soon to WHO’s website.