British Potato Farmer Blames Weight Loss Drugs for Falling Demand

A British farmer has named a problem that he believes is increasingly noticeable in the field and in other sectors, such as the fry business. Andy Goodacre, a potato producer in Lincolnshire, UK, claims to have around 600 tons of potatoes valued at over £120,000 (approximately €138,000) that he cannot sell due to a loss of orders from a key buyer. He asserts that more and more people are using weight loss drugs like Ozempic or Mounjaro, resulting in lower appetites and reduced purchases of fries. This story, published in the British newspaper The Telegraph, has spread rapidly throughout the UK and mixes several curious and trendy elements, although they do not alone prove the cause that the farmer is highlighting. On one hand, the official prospectuses for semaglutide and tirzepatide, the active ingredients in Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, state that these medications reduce appetite and energy intake. On the other hand, the fish and chips industry has been warning about the impact of the cost of living on portion sizes and consumption for some time. What remains unproven is that Goodacre's surplus can be solely attributed to what he refers to as 'fat jabs.' The 65-year-old farmer claims in statements to the British media that he has never experienced a campaign like this one in decades of cultivating for companies like McCain and Seabrooks. According to him, he did not sign a contract this year, and subsequently, the orders failed to arrive. He also points out a carryover from the previous season, the trend towards healthier eating, and the rise of weight loss injections, arguing that these factors are reducing sales at chip shops and, in turn, affecting the market for his product. However, there are cases where the opposite occurs: users of Ozempic and similar medications who consume more chocolate, for instance. The farmer himself admits that there are many factors behind the problem. While his complaint is striking, it does not equate to a closed economic proof. In fact, the UK fish and chips sector has been explaining for months how the rising costs of energy, fish, oils, and raw materials have forced many businesses to adjust portion sizes or increase their prices. A survey from June 2024 found the average price for a regular portion in the UK to be £10.88. Data indeed supports the notion that these medications are designed to aid in weight loss, primarily by suppressing hunger. The European label for Ozempic indicates that semaglutide reduces body weight by decreasing energy intake and appetite, and Wegovy mentions that in a phase 1 trial, energy intake in a meal was 35% less compared to a placebo after 20 weeks. Mounjaro's label includes frequent effects such as decreased appetite, according to the European Medicines Agency. Moreover, the usage of these drugs has rapidly expanded. A study from UCL estimated that by January 2026, around 16 million adults in England, Wales, and Scotland had utilized weight loss medications between the beginning of 2024 and the start of 2025, with an additional 33 million expressing interest in doing so in the following year. Concurrently, the NHS notes that tirzepatide should only be prescribed within certain specialized services for weight management. The underlying problem extends beyond a single explanation. Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers, partially supports the idea that people are ordering less food in a single sitting. However, he also emphasizes the impact of consumer wallets, as reported by The Sun. This combination aligns more closely with the overall picture: less purchasing power, smaller portions, and a growing number of consumers using appetite-suppressing drugs. Meanwhile, Goodacre claims that his best varieties have been stored since October and that he has little margin left before they spoil. He has expressed that he would prefer to donate them to a food bank rather than send them to livestock. His complaint has opened an uncomfortable debate in the UK about whether changing eating habits also alters the entire supply chain, from the fryer to the farmer. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2