The Cancerous Elephant in Iowa’s Room

Food with Mark Bittman

Sweetness and Light

Nutrition, Arts, Food, Culture, Cooking, Health & Fitness, Society & Culture

4.9 • 947 Ratings

🗓️ 24 September 2025

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In recent years, the state of Iowa has had the second-highest rate of cancer in the US; it's also one of only two states where cancer rates are increasing. This alarming rise in disease is the crux of a new initiative that is pinpointing agricultural chemicals as a key suspect in this uptick. Today, Mark talks to Adam Shriver, Director of Wellness and Nutrition at the Harkin Institute (and head of the initiative); Richard Deming, who has been a cancer doctor in Iowa for almost 40 years; and factory farm expert Diane Rosenberg.

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Transcript

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1:05.3	Welcome to Food. I'm Kate Bitman
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	...

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