Unsafe food kills 1.5 million people a year worldwide: WHO CTV News 1.5 million people died of foodborne illnesses in one year. What can you do? CNN Unsafe food causes 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths annually, young children at highest risk World Health Organization (WHO) WHO Releases Data on the Proportion of Microbiological, Chemical Hazards that are Foodborne Food Safety Magazine