UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for unified efforts to enhance food safety, ensuring safe production, distribution, and preparation of food.
He pointed that the safety threat evolves from new production, distribution and consumption methods, as well as the emergence of resistant bacteria.
Ban said: "With the food supply chain stretching around the world, the need to strengthen food safety systems within and among countries is becoming more critical.
"That is why, on World Health Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on countries and all actors to improve food safety from farm to plate and everywhere in between."
The new data released by World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that 582 million cases of 22 different foodborne diseases were reported in 2010.
According to the new report, a total of 351,000 deaths occurred in that year due to diseases including Salmonella, E.Coli and norovirus.
The E.coli outbreak in Germany during 2011 reportedly caused $1.3bn in losses for farmers and industries and $236m in emergency aid payments to 22 European Union Member States, the report added.
Commenting on the issue, WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan stressed the need for coordinated, cross-border action across the entire food supply chain to ensure food safety.
