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The burden of foodborne diseases and the benefits of investing in safe food

Year of publication 2018

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 2

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food is a basic requirement for human health. Foodborne hazards include a variety of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, parasites, harmful toxins and chemicals, causing a plethora of diseases from digestive tract infections to cancer. The World Health Organization (WHO) conservatively estimates that 600 million – almost 1 in 10 people in the world – fall ill after eating contaminated food leading to 33 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). This thematic brief for the First FAO/WHO/AU International Food Safety Conference outlines key issues – strategic direction of addressing unsafe food and foodborne diseases.

Language English

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