GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – A new WHO report whose initial results will be issued later today will show that 351,000 people died in one year from foodborne illnesses, with 582 million cases on record. The report’s findings are part of the 7 April World Health Day 2015, whose theme is “from farm to plate, make food safe”.

The full results of the study carried out by the World Health Organization will be published later in the year.

The WHO in a press release notes:

“Some important results are related to enteric infections caused by viruses, bacteria and protozoa that enter the body by ingestion of contaminated food. The initial FERG figures, from 2010, show that:

• there were an estimated 582 million cases of 22 different foodborne enteric diseases and 351 000 associated deaths;
• the enteric disease agents responsible for most deaths were Salmonella Typhi (52 000 deaths), enteropathogenic E. coli (37 000) and norovirus (35 000);
• the African region recorded the highest disease burden for enteric foodborne disease, followed by South-East Asia;
• over 40% people suffering from enteric diseases caused by contaminated food were children aged under 5 years.

Unsafe food also poses major economic risks, especially in a globalized world. Germany’s 2011 E.coli outbreak reportedly caused US$ 1.3 billion in losses for farmers and industries and US$ 236 million in emergency aid payments to 22 European Union Member States.”

Guide to safe food for travelers and 5 keys to safe food are published by the WHO for consumers.