World Food Safety Day 2026: EFSA advancing safer food through science

Every year, unsafe food causes illness, long-term health problems and economic harm for millions of people worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that contaminated food causes 866 million illnesses and 1.52 million deaths annually, affecting nearly one in nine people globally. For World Food Safety Day on 7 June 2026, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is reaffirming its commitment to turning scientific evidence into safer food for everyone.

This year’s theme highlights the burden of foodborne diseases and the necessity for effective solutions to reduce it. This issue sits at the heart of EFSA’s work on zoonoses and its 'One Health' approach—a unified, integrated strategy that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems.

Food safety is often measured by the number of reported cases of disease. However, the impact of foodborne illnesses extends far beyond these figures. EFSA does not only examine how many people become ill, but also the severity of the illness and its long-term health, social, and economic consequences. This broader perspective provides a stronger scientific basis for prevention, risk assessment, and policymaking across the European Union.

To support communication activities for World Food Safety Day, EFSA has developed a range of ready-to-use materials for partners across Europe. Materials developed under EFSA’s #Safe2Eat campaign include editable visual materials, localized social media content, and 'Myth vs Fact' Instagram Story templates that can be customized by Member States.