A major new report has warned that artificial ingredients in takeaway meals and 'forever chemicals' found in school uniforms and frying pans may be contributing to a concerning rise in deadly cancers among young people. British scientists from The Institute of Cancer Research and Imperial College London have highlighted that antibiotics could also be part of the mystery behind increasing cancer rates in adults aged 20 to 49.
Rising Cancer Rates in Younger Adults
The study, published in BMJ Oncology, examined incidence trends across more than 20 cancers in England between 2001 and 2019, comparing them with the latest diagnosis data from 2023. It found that 11 cancers are now rising among younger adults, including breast, bowel, thyroid, oral, endometrial, liver, kidney, gallbladder, pancreatic, womb, and ovarian cancers. In 2023 alone, around 31,000 younger adults were diagnosed with cancer, with women accounting for almost two-thirds of cases, largely due to breast cancer.
Obesity and Unexplained Factors
Many of these cancers have long been linked to the global obesity crisis. However, experts argue that weight gain alone cannot explain the sharp rise in younger adults. Professor Montserrat García-Closas of The Institute of Cancer Research stated, 'Whilst BMI remains our best clue as to why cancer is on the rise in this age group, much of the increase still remains unexplained. This tells us that multiple factors – including early-life exposures – may be acting together.'
Potential Causes: UPFs, PFAS, and Antibiotics
Scientists suspect that ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which now make up around half of the average UK diet, may be one cause. These are commonly found in ready meals, breakfast cereals, protein bars, fizzy drinks, and fast food. Previous research has linked UPF-heavy diets to cancer, including a study that found people who regularly eat them are more likely to develop pre-cancerous bowel growths.
Another suspect is PFAS, or 'forever chemicals,' used in non-stick pans, waterproof clothing, and food packaging. MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee recently urged ministers to curb their use after warnings that these chemicals can build up in the body and environment for decades.
Antibiotics have also come under scrutiny. Their use surged in the 1970s after the success of penicillin led to a widespread belief that medicine had conquered infectious disease, with less known about long-term consequences. Scientists believe that UPFs, PFAS, and antibiotics may all disrupt the gut microbiome – the trillions of bacteria in the digestive system that play a crucial role in health – potentially triggering changes linked to cancer.
Call for Urgent Research and Action
Professor Marc Gunter, co-director of the Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research Unit at Imperial College London, said, 'The changes we're seeing in cancer incidence, particularly the rates of some cancers in younger adults, don't have a single cause or simple answer. But it is possible that changes in the gut microbiome – potentially caused by ultra-processed foods, forever chemicals, and an increase in antibiotic use in the 70s – could explain some of the changes in cancer rates.'
Professor García-Closas added, 'Cancer is a very complex disease, so there are very few examples where one single factor drives the majority of cases, like smoking and lung cancer. While obesity is an important factor, there is still a lot we don't know and it is dangerous to pinpoint single suspicious factors.'
Experts are now calling for urgent research into what is driving cancer in younger people, while warning policymakers must also tackle the obesity epidemic already fuelling many early-age cases. 'We cannot wait to act. It's crucial that we act now on what we already know: tackling obesity across all ages could slow the rise in cancers and must become a national priority,' said Professor García-Closas.
