Unclean food

Lack of food hygiene
Unsafe food

Nature

Food safety habits are usually at fault with outbreaks of foodborne diseases. Food hygiene practices are often hampered by ingrained traditions and ignorance, as well as by economic limitations.

Incidence

The World Health Organization estimates that each year, unsafe food causes 600 million cases of foodborne diseases and 420,000 deaths globally, with the highest burden in low- and middle-income countries. Contamination can occur at any stage of the food supply chain, and unclean food is a significant contributor to malnutrition and stunted growth in children, particularly in regions with inadequate sanitation and food safety regulations.
In 2018, a mass food poisoning outbreak in Kerala, India, linked to contaminated shawarma from a local eatery, resulted in over 40 hospitalizations and the death of a 16-year-old girl, highlighting the severe risks of unclean food.

Claim

Eating food that makes you sick isn't just an inconvenience; it has become a serious public health problem and is growing.

Physicians and other healthcare professionals often overlook food safety issues when talking to their patients.

Counter-claim

Unclean food is often exaggerated as a pressing issue, but in reality, it pales in comparison to more significant global challenges like poverty and climate change. The focus on unclean food distracts from addressing systemic problems that truly impact lives. Most consumers have access to information and resources to make informed choices. Instead of sensationalizing unclean food, we should prioritize education and sustainable practices that tackle the root causes of food insecurity and health disparities.