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Foodborne diseases cause significant illness and death worldwide through the ingestion of food contaminated by bacteria, viruses, parasites, chemicals and biotoxins. Food contamination is very common throughout the WHO European Region, even in the most developed countries. Foodborne diseases have reached epidemic proportions in several European Member States.

WHO helps to ensure safe food

WHO wants food safety to receive more attention: Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General said: “Governments need to give food safety just as much attention as they devote to the quality and safety of pharmaceutical products. Not everyone needs to take medicine every day but all people need food each and every day.”

WHO/Europe supports countries in building capacity to manage food safety challenges in accordance with the WHO European Action Plan for Food and Nutrition Policy 2007–2012 and the WHO global strategy for food safety. The Action Plan is an important guide for policy-makers and health professionals that includes a wide range of actions in the area of food safety.