From WHO, Jan 2002.

Food safety is an increasingly important public health issue. Governments all over the world are intensifying their efforts to improve food safety. These efforts are in response to an increasing number of food safety problems and rising consumer concerns.

Definition of foodborne illness: Foodborne illnesses are defined as diseases, usually either infectious or toxic in nature, caused by agents that enter the body through the ingestion of food, it could be micro-organisms or other agents (incl. chemical products). Every person is at risk of foodborne illness.

Magnitude of foodborne illness: Foodborne diseases are a widespread and growing public health problem, both in developed and developing countries.

• The global incidence of foodborne disease is difficult to estimate, but it has been reported that in 2000 alone 2.1 million people died from diarrhoeal diseases. A great proportion of these cases can be attributed to contamination of food and drinking water. Additionally, diarrhoea is a major cause of malnutrition in infants and young children.
• The high prevalence of diarrhoeal diseases in many developing countries suggests major underlying food and water safety problems.