Wageningen University Professor Ellen Kampman received a Royal Decoration on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, for her decades of research into the relationship between diet and cancer, Burgemeester Floor Vermeulen, the mayor of Wageningen, presented the Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau on World Cancer Day, following a symposium on ‘Nutrition and Cancer’ held on the Wageningen Campus.
The honor recognizes Kampman’s more than 35 years of work investigating how lifestyle factors influence cancer development, progression, and patient well-being. Her research informs guidelines and recommendations both within the Netherlands and internationally. “She has contributed to better care and better chances for people with cancer,” said Mayor Vermeulen, according to a press release from Wageningen University.
Although acknowledging the long-held understanding of the benefits of plant-based diets, Kampman cautioned against oversimplification. Recent research, including studies funded by the World Cancer Research Fund, indicates that vegetarians have a 21 percent lower risk of pancreatic cancer, a 12 percent lower risk of prostate cancer, and a 9 percent lower risk of breast cancer compared to meat-eaters. The data also suggests a 28 percent reduced risk of kidney cancer and a 31 percent lower risk of multiple myeloma among vegetarians.
However, the research also revealed unexpected findings. Vegetarians demonstrated nearly double the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, the most common form of esophageal cancer. Vegan individuals showed a 40 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer compared to meat-eaters. Kampman attributes these discrepancies, in part, to evolving dietary patterns and demographics of vegetarians over time.
“In the 1990s and early 2000s, a vegetarian often had a very different profile than now,” Kampman explained. “It was a small, conscious group: highly educated, physically more active, and often with a healthier lifestyle in general. That makes it complicated to translate everything one-to-one to now.”
Kampman emphasized that determining whether a fully vegetarian or vegan diet is inherently healthier remains complex. Current dietary guidelines, she noted, recommend reducing meat and dairy consumption, citing concerns related to colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease, and environmental sustainability. A completely vegan diet is feasible, she added, “but you need to know what you are replacing.” She expressed concern about potential nutrient deficiencies if substitutions are not carefully considered.
Kampman underscored that vegetarians, on average, consume a healthier diet characterized by higher intakes of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and fiber. Plant-based diets often contain fewer calories, which can aid in weight management, a known risk factor for cancers like breast cancer. She advises limiting red meat, particularly processed meats, and increasing consumption of poultry, turkey, or other fowl, along with weekly fish intake.
Ellen Kampman is Chair in Nutrition and Disease at Wageningen University, having held the position since 2008. She has published over 200 peer-reviewed scientific papers and book chapters and currently serves as a senior editor for the AACR journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention. She has also secured approximately €15 million in research grants from governmental and non-governmental organizations and has supervised more than 20 PhD students.
Kampman continues to engage with the public, regularly giving lectures to patients, healthcare professionals, and interested individuals in hospitals, libraries, and at patient organizations, often in her own time. She also advises organizations such as KWF Kankerbestrijding and the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), as well as the Ministry of Health and various hospitals.