They have been a staple in the British diet for well over 200 years but the popularity of potatoes is falling – because of the soaring use of weightloss jabs.
Demand for potatoes – whether chipped, crisped, mashed, or boiled – has tanked, with farmers warning of a ten per cent slump in sales compared with a year ago.
It seems the nation’s appetite for starchy foods is being suppressed by Wegovy, Mounjaro and a focus on healthier eating.
Crisps and frozen chips have fallen out of favour with an estimated 2.5 million people nationwide now using the drugs. Fish and chip shops are now offering smaller portions to reflect consumer demand. Rufus Pilgrim, of potato supplier RS Cockerill, said he was ‘most definitely’ seeing weaker demand, especially with sales of varieties used for making crisps, adding: ‘There’s a reasonable percentage of the population on weight suppressant drugs and they are obviously cutting their carbohydrate intake.’ It’s not such healthy news for farmers already grappling with a surplus of potatoes from bumper harvests, which have caused prices to fall.
According to Potato Call, the industry newsletter, Maris Piper spuds are currently selling at £180 a ton – half last year’s price.
Demand for potatoes has tanked, with farmers warning of a ten per cent slump in sales compared with a year ago
It seems the nation’s appetite for starchy foods is being suppressed by Wegovy, Mounjaro and a focus on healthier eating. Stock image of a woman stood on weight scales holdig weight loss jabs
In Germany, farmers are giving away massive sacks of surplus potatoes for people to help themselves after a bumper harvest led to a ‘Kartoffel-Flut’ or potato flood.
Berliner Astrid Marz visited one of 174 collection points set up around the city.
She said: ‘I stopped counting at 150. I think I’ve got enough to keep me and my neighbours going until the end of the year.’ Two lorry loads have also been sent to hungry Ukrainians.
