On World Food Safety Day 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) unveiled new estimates indicating that foodborne diseases resulted in 57.1 million Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) lost globally in 2021. This initiative, supported by researchers from the DTU National Food Institute, aims to provide countries with a robust evidence base for prioritizing food safety measures. The estimates highlight the unequal burden of foodborne diseases across different regions and age groups, enabling authorities to focus on the most pressing food safety issues. Sara Monteiro Pires, a senior researcher at DTU, noted that the data should be leveraged to develop effective food safety strategies and strengthen surveillance systems. Additionally, the estimates underscore the importance of understanding both microbiological and chemical hazards in food, as the latter can lead to significant long-term health effects. Denmark's existing model for estimating foodborne disease burdens illustrates how precise data can inform national food safety policies, while the WHO's global estimates provide a shared framework for countries to address their specific challenges in food safety.