Coinciding with World Food Safety Day (WFSD) 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released updated estimates on the global burden of foodborne disease. The release supports this year's WFSD theme, "From Burden to Solutions: Safe Food Everywhere," and is intended to help governments, industry, and public health stakeholders translate data into targeted food safety action for measurable public health impacts.

In recognition of WFSD and the new estimates, Elaine Borghi, Ph.D., Unit Head for Monitoring and Surveillance, Nutrition, and Food Safety at WHO, joined the Food Safety Matters podcast for an exclusive interview discussing the development and significance of the new foodborne disease burden estimates. Listen to the full episode here!

The Most Comprehensive Foodborne Disease Burden Estimates to Date

Dr. Borghi explained that the new estimates, developed by WHO’s Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group (FERG), represent a significant advancement over the last (which was also the first) edition, solicited in 2015. For the 2026 estimates, WHO is providing national-level estimates and time–series data spanning 2000–2021, enabling countries to track how foodborne disease burdens have evolved over the past two decades and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions over time.

The 2026 estimates cover 42 microbiological and chemical hazards and incorporate updated methodologies, including strengthened source attribution models, standardized data collection, and enhanced probabilistic modeling. Notably, the latest assessment expands its focus beyond acute infectious diseases to include hazards associated with noncommunicable diseases, reflecting the long-term health impacts of some foodborne exposures.

According to Dr. Borghi, the estimates draw on thousands of data points from surveillance systems, scientific literature, population-based studies, and contributions from more than 120 scientists worldwide. WHO also engaged extensively with Member States during the development of the estimates, allowing countries to review preliminary findings and contribute additional national data.

Making Use of the Data for Real-World Impacts

A key objective of the updated estimates is to help countries move from just measuring the burden of foodborne disease to implementing solutions. By using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) as a common metric, countries can compare the impacts of different hazards and prioritize interventions where they are most needed. The estimates also reveal important regional differences, highlighting how food safety challenges vary across populations and geographies—from foodborne diarrheal diseases affecting young children in many regions to chemical hazards such as arsenic and lead exposure in parts of Southeast Asia.

Economic Benefits of Reducing Foodborne Disease

In addition to health impacts, the 2026 estimates include economic burden data, helping policymakers understand the costs of unsafe food in terms of healthcare expenditures, lost productivity, trade disruptions, and broader development impacts. Dr. Borghi emphasized that making these costs visible can strengthen the case for investments in food safety systems and prevention measures. For example, in a report released in April supporting this work, WHO estimated that every $1 USD invested in food safety infrastructure could result in a $46 USD return on investment (ROI) in the form of public health value.

Toward Safer Food Everywhere

Looking ahead, WHO expects the updated burden estimates to serve as a foundation for stronger surveillance, evidence-based policymaking, and international collaboration. Combined with initiatives such as the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) and the WHO Alliance for Food Safety, the data are intended to help countries build more resilient, risk-based food safety systems and advance the shared goal of “safer food everywhere.”