1.6M fall ill daily from unsafe food, warns WHO

"Food safety is a global responsibility," said Simone Moraes Raszl, the scientist at WHO's Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, during a UN press briefing in Geneva ahead of World Food Safety Day on Saturday.

"These illnesses are preventable, and the science to prevent them already exists. What we need is action -- coordinated, evidence-based, and inclusive action," she added.

Raszl stressed that responsibility for food safety lies with all sectors of society. Policymakers must invest in science-based regulations and strong data systems; food businesses need to adopt rigorous safety practices and embrace transparency; academia should continue to innovate and educate; and consumers must stay informed and practice safe food handling at home.

"Every one of us is a risk manager," she said. "Because if it's not safe, it's not food."