Celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern has criticized companies like Nestlé for making frozen meals for Ozempic and Wegovy users.
In an interview with TMZhe Strange foods: delicious destinations The host slammed the food industry for creating frozen meals aimed at weight-loss drug users, as processed foods are partly to blame for the current obesity epidemic in the US. Zimmern stated that it is ” It's a disaster” that the food industry is trying to capitalize on the growing number of consumers taking GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.
“There's something really confusing about people buying two- or three-hundred-dollar injectables and shoving them into their stomachs just to look better,” he said, criticizing the food industry for trying to capitalize on the problems they created by popularizing processed foods. .
“The irony is… some big processed food companies are releasing foods that should be taken with Ozempic,” he continued. “And I think the really sad truth is that we're going to have more processed foods that cost five dollars or less, in addition to the very expensive injectables.”
He stressed that what we really need to do as a society is go back to the basics.
“I also think linking a drug like Ozempic to a food line is about as confusing as it gets,” he added. “We need to return to a place in time, as boring as it may seem, where we eat smarter, exercise and take care of our bodies. It's really that simple.”
According to a recent survey from health policy research organization KFF, an estimated one in eight adults in the U.S. has used a GLP-1 medication at some point, and nearly half of that number are currently in the process. By 2035, research from Morgan Stanley indicates that the total number of American consumers taking this drug could increase to a whopping 31.5 million, or nine percent of the total population.
This increase has had a ripple effect on consumer habits, according to Walmart US CEO John Furner, who said Bloomberg In October, that data showed that customers who picked up GLP-1 prescriptions at their pharmacies were purchasing not only less food but also items with fewer calories. As patients taking the drug eat less frequently – due to fewer cravings and a desire to consume more protein than sugary and fatty foods – investors are concerned about what this means for the future of food and beverage companies. and fast food chains.
Processed food giant Nestlé recently announced plans to launch new frozen food brand, Vital Pursuit, aimed at the growing demographic of weight-loss drug users. With Vital Pursuit, Nestlé aims to help consumers in their health journey by providing them with the necessary nutrients. The new brand will join Nestlé's other health-focused frozen food brand, Lean Cuisine, founded in 1981, but the difference is that the new brand is aimed specifically at weight-loss drug users who need to consume more protein. amid the muscle loss that often occurs with medications.
“To me, what we've done is give consumers a new tool that really gives them confidence and success on this journey,” explained Nestlé North America CEO Steve Presley. CNBC. “Consumer research shows that there are certain nutrients and certain macros that need to be administered to help consumers stay healthy during GLP-1 treatment.”
The new brand will initially offer 12 items, including frozen bowls with whole grains or protein-rich pasta, as well as sandwich melts and pizzas that include one or more essential nutrients such as protein, calcium or iron. They also plan to sell gluten-free items. Although the brand's packaging will not include mentions of the GLP-1 medications, the brand's upcoming social media campaigns will directly link the new products to the medications.
