Dr. Nicholas DeVito, an oncologist from Duke University, has raised alarm over the increasing number of young cancer patients he’s seeing at his clinic. According to DeVito, almost every new patient at his clinic is under 45 years old, with a significant rise in gastrointestinal cancers, particularly bile duct and stomach cancers, among younger generations. He attributes this troubling trend to the prevalence of ultra-processed foods in the American diet.
DeVito argues that these ultra-processed foods, which now make up nearly three-quarters of what Americans consume, are a potential cause for the rise in cancer cases. He criticizes the lack of regulation in the U.S. food system, which allows additives that are “generally recognized as safe” to be widely used, contrasting this with stricter regulations in the European Union. DeVito believes that a collective effort, similar to the fight against tobacco, is necessary to reduce deaths related to these foods.
The oncologist emphasizes that changing the tide will require Americans to make different dietary choices, prioritizing their health over convenience and corporate profit. He expresses hope that, in the future, early-onset gastrointestinal cancers will become less common, and fewer patients under 50 will be diagnosed with such diseases.
DeVito’s call to action underscores the need for greater awareness of the potential health risks associated with ultra-processed foods and a push for stronger food safety regulations in the U.S.
