The World Health Organization (WHO) released updated estimates of the global burden of foodborne diseases for the period 2000 to 2021. For 2021, foodborne transmission of the 42 hazards caused 866 million (95% uncertainty interval 680–1090) illnesses, 1·52 million (0·783–2·51) deaths, and 57·1 million (39·4–81·1) incidence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). Inorganic arsenic, lead, and non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica (diarrheal and invasive disease) resulted in the most DALYs. The greatest burden of foodborne disease was in the African and South-East Asia regions. The incidence in children younger than 5 years was 2·7 times higher than in people aged 5 years or older, resulting in 4·3 times the rate of DALYs. The total burden from all hazards decreased over time. In 2021, these 42 hazards resulted in productivity losses of US$310 billion in nominal terms, and US$647 billion after adjusting for purchasing power parity. The report was published in The Lancet Global Health. In 2021, foodborne diseases resulted in US$310 billion in nominal medical expenses and lost productivity, which rises to US$647 billion when adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP). The highest rates of foodborne disease burden in children younger than 5 years were due to methylmercury, non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica, and rotavirus. In individuals aged 5 years or older, the greatest burden was due to inorganic arsenic, lead, and non-typhoidal S. enterica. The microbial hazard with the greatest burden was non-typhoidal S enterica, which included burden from both diarrhoeal and invasive illness. @ https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(26)00156-7/fulltext
