Unsafe food is costing low- and middle-income economies US$110 billion (3.66 trillion baht) a year in lost productivity and medical costs, according to a study by the World Bank.
A large portion of the damage could be avoided with preventive measures at all steps of the supply chain, from farm to table.
Increasing food safety would significantly contribute to achieving multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals relating to poverty, hunger and well-being.
World Health Organization research indicates that foodborne diseases caused about 600 million illnesses and 420,000 deaths in 2010. The foodborne diseases are unequally distributed in Southeast Asia, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, with 75% of food-related deaths happening in these regions.
Foodborne illnesses affect children the most. Children under 5 make up 9% of the world's population but account for 30% of food-related deaths and 40% of foodborne diseases.
"Food safety receives relatively little policy attention and is under-resourced," said Juergen Voegele, senior director for food and agriculture global practice at World Bank. "Action is normally reactive -- to major foodborne disease outbreaks or trade interruptions -- rather than preventative. By focusing on domestic food safety more deliberately, countries can strengthen the competitiveness of their farmers and food industries and develop their human capital. After all, safe food is essential to fuel a healthy, educated and resilient workforce."
The World Bank study "The Safe Food Imperative: Accelerating Progress in Low- and Middle-Income Countries" puts the deadly problem of unsafe food in economic terms.
It found the total productivity loss from foodborne illness in low- and middle-income countries to be $95.2 billion a year, while medical treatment would cost $15 billion annually.
The economic costs are tallied in a variety of ways, including losses of farm and company sales, reduced trade revenue and consumer avoidance of perishable foods like vegetables.
Modern demographic and dietary shifts are contributing to the exposure of foodborne illnesses, with governments in low- and middle-income countries stretched thin to manage the crisis.
"Governments in low- and middle-income countries not only need to invest more in food safety, but also invest more smartly," said Steven Jaffee, lead agriculture economist at the World Bank and co-author of the report. "This means investing in the foundational knowledge, human resources and infrastructure for food safety systems; realising synergies among investments in food safety, human health and environmental protection; and using public investment to leverage private investment."
The report said governments must move from enforcement and punishment to education and awareness.
