TEHRAN, Apr.9 (Mehr News Agency) - An estimated 35000 die annually due to food pollution in the country, state deputy health minister said here on Wednesday.

Speaking at Iran's Institute of Nutrition, Rasul Dinarvand described food pollution as the underlying cause of 20% of infectious diseases.

Lamenting the steady upward trend in food pollution worldwide, he said that 5 per 1,000 persons die of food pollution each year in the world.

Dinarvand referred to some of chronic heart diseases and cancers caused by food pollution, and called for a tougher inspection system for food safety and hygiene in order to save treatment high cost.

... Payvand News - 04/09/09 ... --