Who's At Risk From Your Next Meal? The World Health Organization Has An Updated Warning

The World Health Organization updated its foodborne disease data over the weekend, and the numbers are stark. The agency now estimates that unsafe food causes 1.5 million deaths and 866 million illnesses every single year worldwide.

Children are especially at risk, experts say. To lower the odds of getting sick, health officials advise avoiding undercooked meat and eggs, raw flour, and unpasteurized dairy products. They also recommend washing vegetables thoroughly before eating them and not leaving certain foods out at room temperature for more than two hours, since bacteria can grow quickly in that window.

The updated figures reflect a broader picture of just how common foodborne illness is globally, though the WHO did not specify which regions or food sources are driving the highest numbers in this latest release.