Institute for Food Safety & Nutrition Security | The George Washington University

Strong Food Surveillance Systems Work for Public Health

Second page of Food Surveillance Information

What did you eat last Tuesday? Could you retrace your steps if needed? Before you take a bite, a vast behind-the-scenes investigative network is ready to be deployed if you fall ill. Like all safety networks, mission readiness requires investment, and not making those investments comes with serious costs. This is the message we delivered on Capitol Hill in June.

foodborne_disease_surveillance_2026_final_1.pdf

Download the information sheet

people in the world fall ill after eating contaminated food and 420,000 die every year.

of the foodborne disease burden is carried by children under 5 years of age, with 125,000 deaths every year.

or 42% of the world's population, are unable to afford a healthy diet

Commentary

“Ceasing coordination and cooperation globally could substantially affect food safety and nutrition security. Without the collaboration in place to alert or be alerted about foodborne disease outbreaks, our food system could be significantly weakened, and the number of people who get sick could substantially increase.”

Barb Kowalcyk | IFSAN Director,
about the U.S. leaving the World Health Organization.

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