Email: communications@africacdc.org
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Foodborne illnesses affect 1 in 10 people globally each year – 600 million fall ill and 420,000 die annually – World Health Organization (WHO) estimates. Foodborne diseases cause 33 million healthy life-years lost and unsafe food hampers development, strains health systems, and burdens economies.
Roughly 70% of urban households and rural populations depend on the informal food sector, including street vending for their food. Street food alone accounts for nearly 50% of urban diets. However, these markets often lack basic infrastructure such as clean water, sanitation, drainage, and waste disposal, thus increasing the risk of food borne diseases. National policies are often outdated, poorly coordinated, or skewed toward export markets, leaving domestic food safety largely under-regulated. While some member states have made progress by establishing food safety authorities or coordination mechanisms, most still prioritize export markets over domestic food safety.
Additionally, national food control systems are under-resourced, lacking effective alert, response, and recall capabilities. Surveillance of foodborne diseases is limited, and laboratory capacity is often inadequate or concentrated in urban areas. Data on food hazards is sparse and fragmented with limited cross-sector collaboration and infrequent risk-based food inspection and data capture undermining policy reform. Emerging threats like adulteration, bioterrorism, antimicrobial resistance and climate change further complicate food safety, while issues like food fraud and new production systems demand innovative, integrated approaches across the value chain.
Food safety is essential to Africa’s agricultural growth and food security goals under Agenda 2063 and the Kampala Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Strategy 2026-2035. The AU has launched key initiatives, including the Food Safety Strategy for Africa (2022-2036) and the Africa Food Safety Agency (AFSA), to harmonize regulations and strengthen capacity. Africa CDC supports this effort through its Food Safety Program, under the One Health Unit to contribute to reducing the burden of foodborne diseases.
The Africa CDC Food Safety Strategic Framework (2026-2030) provides a clear roadmap for reducing the burden of FBDs and emphasizing a One Health approach, cross-sectoral collaboration, and evidence-based interventions. The framework will focus on the following key areas to reduce the burden of foodborne diseases.
