A Lincolnshire farmer has blamed the soaring popularity of weight-loss injections such as Mounjaro and Ozempic for leaving him with more than 600 tons of unsold potatoes worth over £120,000. Andy Goodacre, 65, said key buyer McCain failed to place orders, and for the first time in 40 years he has been unable to secure contracts for his crop. According to Mr Goodacre, changing consumer habits driven by appetite-suppressing drugs and healthy lifestyle trends have significantly reduced demand. He noted that fish-and-chip shop owners have reported customers sharing single portions of chips rather than buying two bags, reflecting a broader decline in how much people are eating.
With his top five potato varieties in storage since October and set to spoil by early April, Mr Goodacre is running out of time to find buyers. He has expressed a willingness to donate the stock to food banks if someone can collect it, otherwise the potatoes may end up as cattle feed. Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers, confirmed the trend is affecting the industry, pointing to both cost-of-living pressures and the “fat jab factor” as drivers of reduced consumption. He warned that if farmers are unable to make a profit this year, the 2027 potato crop could shrink as growers switch to other crops, potentially destabilizing the market.
