The campaign for World Food Safety Day 2026 has officially launched, focusing on transforming foodborne disease data into actionable, life-saving policy changes under the theme “From burden to solutions – safe food everywhere.”
Led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), this year’s initiative highlights the global impact of foodborne illnesses and the science-backed measures needed to eradicate them.
Key Highlights of the 2026 Campaign:
- Groundbreaking Data Release: In June, the WHO will publish updated estimates detailing global, regional, and—for the first time ever—national data on foodborne illness, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) covering 2000 to 2021.
- Interactive Tools: The release includes a key findings report, an interactive data dashboard, and updated Global Health Observatory pages capturing roughly 25,000 datapoints across thousands of studies.
- Driven by Codex Standards: Experts emphasize that implementing Codex Alimentarius standards, strengthening national food control systems, and practicing safe food handling are essential to reducing the public health burden.
- Action Across the Supply Chain: Aligning with the ongoing slogan “Food safety is everyone’s business,” the campaign urges everyone—from policymakers and business operators to everyday consumers—to apply evidence-based solutions, such as WHO’s “Five Keys to Safer Food.”
By providing countries with unprecedented granular data on foodborne hazards, the 2026 campaign aims to mobilize political commitment, target multisectoral responses, and proactively prevent foodborne diseases worldwide.
