Celebrity Chef Slams New Frozen Meal Line Targeting Ozempic Users
Andrew Zimmern
Celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern, the host of Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern and its spinoff series, shared his thoughts on the food industry developing offerings specifically for people on Ozempic and other weight-loss medicine.
Zimmern spoke with TMZ about the divisive topic, saying that he thinks "linking a drug like Ozempic with a food line is about as messed up as it gets."
While he didn't reference any specific food line, he noted that "some big processed food companies are coming out with foods that are meant to be taken with Ozempic."
To the 62-year-old, this is an indication of a possible trend in the food industry, calling it a "really sad truth" as he predicted that there will be "more processed food that costs $5 or less to go with your very expensive injectable."
He also mentioned "processed food-related diseases," highlighting how doctors have linked "ultra-processed foods" with a higher risk of health issues, via CNN.
Despite his negative feelings regarding the likely food industry trend of products designed for weight-loss drug users, Zimmern made it clear that he supports the use of medicine for people in need of it, saying, "I love the idea of people being able to get helped by medicine of any kind."
Recently, Nestlé announced that it would be releasing a line of products called Vital Pursuit that is "intended to be a companion for GLP-1 weight loss medication users," as stated in the press release.
"As the use of medications to support weight loss continues to rise, we see an opportunity to serve those consumers, said Steve Presley, chief executive officer of Nestlé North America. "Vital Pursuit provides accessible, great-tasting food options that support the needs of consumers in this emerging category."
The line will reportedly include frozen meal options like protein pasta, pizza and sandwiches, with a potential retail price of $4.99 or less.
Next: Thinking About Trying Ozempic? Here's What You Can Expect Week by Week
