Feedback sought on experts for meeting on cost of foodborne illness

The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking comments related to experts selected to work on estimating the economic burden of foodborne infections.

WHO is currently updating global estimates on the public health burden of foodborne diseases. This work will estimate cases, deaths, and disability-adjusted life year (DALY) loss at the global, regional, and national level. It is set for publication in late 2025.

In May 2022, the Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Group (FERG) advised WHO to look at the economic impact of foodborne hazards. 

In 2023, WHO issued a call for experts to help with the valuation of foodborne diseases. Advice was sought on economic health valuation practices and their use in low- and middle-income countries, and on the availability and representativeness of medical treatment cost data in all countries.

Selected experts
In 2019, the World Bank released economic figures on foodborne diseases based on the WHO report published in 2015 that estimated the burden of foodborne infections in 2010.

The first ever estimates on the global burden of foodborne diseases showed that almost 1 in 10 people fall ill every year from eating contaminated food and 420,000 die.

The World Bank report said the impact of unsafe food costs low- and middle-income economies about $110 billion in lost productivity and medical expenses each year. 

WHO and the World Bank are hosting a technical consultation on the economic burden of foodborne diseases, on Feb. 4 and 6, 2025.

The names and biographies of individuals being considered for such meetings are disclosed for public notice and comment. This information is provided by the experts. Input received by WHO through the notice and comment process are confidential. Public comments can be sent until Dec. 18 to [email protected]

Experts include Maureen Cropper, a Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Maryland; Spencer Henson, from the University of Guelph in Canada; Steven Jaffee, a lecturer at the University of Maryland; and Lisa A. Robinson, from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

WHO may discuss feedback received through this process with the relevant person with no attribution to the provider of such information. Participation of an expert in a WHO meeting does not imply they are endorsed or recommended by WHO nor does it create a binding relationship.

Investment case work with IFC
WHO is also working on the development of an investment case for foodborne disease surveillance with help from the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

It aims to help governments and donors make informed decisions about allocating resources toward the best food safety investments.

The study, which will be published in early 2025, calculates the average return on investment of foodborne disease surveillance interventions for several countries.

The impact of investing in surveillance could be up to 19 million illnesses averted, 13,092 premature deaths prevented, and $23 billion in health benefits across 17 countries over 10 years at a cost of $492 million.

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Source: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2024/11/feedback-sought-on-experts-for-cost-of-foodborne-illness-meeting/