Marks & Spencer is launching a range of foods tailored to people taking weight-loss injections as use of the drugs accelerates in the UK.

The new range of 20 “nutrient-dense” products from the retailer is aimed at customers taking GLP-1 weight-loss medications, as supermarkets increasingly adapt to the impact the drugs are having on shopping baskets.

The range will go on sale in M&S foodhalls from January 5 and includes salads, meals and bread designed to deliver high levels of fibre, vitamins and minerals in smaller portions.

There has been a dramatic rise in the use of GLP-1 drugs in the UK. Online searches and private prescriptions have increased sharply, driven by their effectiveness for weight loss and widespread media attention. About 1.5 million people in the UK are now estimated to be accessing GLP-1 treatment privately, while NHS England prescriptions for the injections have risen by around 900 per cent since 2020.

GLP-1 medications — known formally as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists — were originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes by helping to regulate blood sugar. In recent years, drugs such as semaglutide (sold as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss) and tirzepatide (sold as Mounjaro) have surged in popularity for their weight-loss effects, as they suppress appetite, slow digestion and signal fullness to the brain.

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Nutrient-dense foods are those that provide a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals, fibre, healthy fats and protein relative to their calorie content. M&S said the range was developed by its nutritionists in consultation with the British Nutrition Foundation, using criteria that ensure each product delivers more nutrients per mouthful.

M&S said the new range had been developed to address the nutritional challenges that can arise when people eat less, whether due to medication, age or lifestyle. A reduced appetite can make it harder to consume enough fibre and essential nutrients, increasing the risk of deficiencies and digestive side effects such as constipation.

Grace Ricotti, M&S head of food nutrition, said: “Our nutrient-dense range is perfect for customers looking to support their health as each recipe is packed with the key nutrients we all need in our diets.

“With the increase in popularity of weight-loss injections, a reduced appetite can mean missing out on important nutrients and that’s why nutrient density is so important. These new meals, snacks and drinks can help everyone get more fibre, vitamins and minerals in their diet.”

Supermarkets and consumer goods companies are increasingly catering to households using the drugs. Morrisons was the first UK supermarket to announce a dedicated “GLP-1 friendly” range, developed with sports nutrition brand Applied Nutrition, under its “Small & Balanced” banner. Nestlé, the consumer goods giant, has launched a frozen food brand in the US aimed at GLP-1 users, while Haleon, the British multinational consumer healthcare company, has introduced a multivitamin designed to help replenish nutrients for people eating less.

The trend is expected to accelerate further as GLP-1 medications move beyond injections. Tablet versions are beginning to reach the market, with US regulators approving an oral version of Wegovy and rival pills expected to follow, potentially widening access to the drugs.

While the drugs are approved for diabetes and obesity treatment, clinicians have raised concerns about the number of people accessing them outside clinical pathways for cosmetic weight loss. The long-term consequences of widespread use are still being studied, particularly as lower calorie intake can increase the risk of nutrient deficiencies if diets are not carefully managed.

Health officials have issued a massive recall of hundreds of products that may be contaminated with rodent feces.

Gold Star Distribution, Inc recalled all FDA-regulated products held at its Minneapolis Facility after the agency found evidence of rodent feces and urine and bird droppings.

The FDA warned that feces and urine contamination can raise the risk of consumers contracting harmful bacteria such as salmonella, which infects over 1million Americans a year and is especially dangerous for those with weakened immune systems such as young children and older adults. 

The recall, issued December 26, includes all cold and flu medications, dietary supplements, food, pet food, cosmetics and medical devices from the Minneapolis facility. 

The majority of products were distributed to stores in the Minneapolis area, but some were found in Indiana, New York, Illinois and North Dakota. 

Affected cold and flu products include DayQuil Cold & Flu, Tylenol Cold & Flu, Tylenol PM, Excedrin, Motrin, Alka-Seltzer Original, Benadryl, Advil Ibuprofen Tablets and Advil PM, among others. 

Other recalled products include JIF crunchy peanut butter, Pringles products, Quaker corn meal, Haribo gold bears and peaches, Extra gum products, Gatorade products, Skittles, Gillette razors, Trojan condoms, Purina dog chow, Meow Mix cat products, Colgate toothpaste and Tampax tampons. 

The company has previously been cited by the FDA for unsanitary conditions, including for ‘significant rodent activity and insanitary conditions.’ In 2018, the agency sent a warning letter to Gold Star following an inspection of its Minneapolis facility, the same one tied to the most recent recalls. 

Affected cold and flu products include DayQuil Cold & Flu, Tylenol Cold & Flu and Tylenol PM, among others

A full list of affected products can be found on the FDA’s website. The recall only applies to products held at the Gold Star facility in Minnesota. It does not affect products shipped directly to retailers. 

No illnesses have been reported.  

Gold Star said: ‘Products held under insanitary conditions may become contaminated.

‘Exposure to contaminated products can pose serious health risks to consumers, including the potential for bacterial contamination, which may result in illness or infection, including salmonella.’

‘Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program,’ the company added.  

Gold Star advised consumers to destroy affected products and provide a receipt of destruction to the company to qualify for a refund. 

For verification and a refund, proof of destruction can be sent to Gold Star Distribution at 1000 N Humboldt Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411.

Consumers with questions can also contact the company at 612-617-9800 any day from 8am to 5pm central time.

In the warning letter to Gold Star following an inspection of its Minneapolis facility, FDA employees wrote that they found ‘significant evidence of rodent activity and insanitary conditions,’ including rodent droppings, rodent fair, gnawed open packaging, live and dead birds, live fruit flies and dead rodents. 

Tylenol PM (left) and Excedrin (right) were two products at the Minneapolis facility that were subject to the recall

Haribo gold bears (pictured here) were part of the recall

The roof also ‘appeared to be leaking in several areas of the facility,’ and several products had spilled on to the floor. Bottles of bleach were also ‘leaking onto a pallet of hot sauce crunchy cheese curls,’ and food meant to be refrigerated was in unrefrigerated sections. 

It’s unclear if Gold Star responded to the letter.  

Salmonella is one of the most common forms of bacteria found in animal feces. Sickening 1.3 million Americans every year, salmonella leads to bloody diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, vomiting and loss of appetite.

While most people recover on their own or have no symptoms, the bacteria can be especially dangerous to young children and the elderly, both of whom have weakened immune systems. 

About 420 Americans die from salmonella every year and 26,500 are hospitalized. 

E. coli and Campylobacter, which cause similar symptoms as salmonella, also are found in feces. 

The FDA urged consumers to contact a physician if they experience symptoms related to using the affected products. 

Customers with concerns about their pets who have eaten recalled animal products should contact a veterinarian. 

Christmas is over and a new year is upon us. Time, then, to start planning your next summer holiday.

Next year, however, you may be more likely to be downing gut health shots and Japanese tea in the airport than the once-traditional morning pints.

Figures from Manchester Airport Group, the biggest in the UK, show soaring numbers of passengers shunning pre-flight booze in favour of more wholesome alternatives.

Sales of matcha, the antioxidant-rich green tea, rose 165% at Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports this year as TikTok influencers sold it as the ultimate wellness drink.

Younger travellers were also more likely to sink super smoothies and gut health shots – up 650% and 102% respectively – than £7 airport pints.

And rather than having a skinful in the sky, a social media craze for “skincare in the sky” drove a 399% increase in sales of onboard face masks compared with 2024.

The trends reflect the healthier – and more selfie-conscious – habits of gen Z travellers, defined as those born between 1997 and 2012, with many more of them jetting off on city breaks and retreats than rowdy 18-30 holidays.

Andrew MacMillan, the chief strategy officer at Manchester Airport Group, said this generational shift was transforming habits in the departure lounge: “This data shows the influence of our younger passengers. Generation Z are creating their airport experiences strongly influenced by AI and social media. These travellers both want to follow trends and set them.”

While experts are not yet calling time on pre-flight pints – sales in recent years have risen in line with the growth in passengers – younger travellers are less likely to be filling airport pubs.

Across Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports, 61,500 more cups of matcha were sold this year than in 2024. Stansted alone recorded 70,000 sales of the Japanese super-tea this year – almost 200 a day.

One of the year’s must-have accessories – at least, according to TikTok – were Stanley drinks holders, beloved by influencers (they come in an array of colours). More than 10,000 of the £40 Stanley bottles were sold at the three airports this year, up six-fold since they went on sale in 2024.

It is not just social media driving alternative travel habits: AI is increasingly being used as a “virtual travel agent”, according to Manchester Airport Group.

A recent survey found that one in four of its passengers aged under 25 had used or intended to use tools such as ChatGPT to plan their trip.

Travel data also suggests that fewer gen Z travellers are jetting off on boozy 18-30 holidays to party hotspots in the Canary Islands and Mediterranean.

Among the typical 18-30 party places, only Tenerife and Palma made the top 10 destinations for under-25s last year. City breaks to Barcelona, Amsterdam, Dublin and New York were more in demand.

Gen Z are more likely than their elders to venture away from the tourist traps. Figures from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) show flights to Albania, Bulgaria and Romania doubled among under-25s last year, partly due to a social media trend for “destination dupes” recommending picturesque places on a budget.

Yet those with more money appear happy to spend it on long-haul travel. The holiday rental firm Airbnb said Buenos Aires in Argentina, Busan in South Korea, João Pessoa in Brazil and Nakano in Japan were the top trending cities among gen Z this year.

Younger Britons may find adventure closer to home, however. The travel magazine National Geographic on Monday picked stargazing in Northumberland as its hottest trip in the world for 2026, ahead of “forest bathing” in Japan and a football pilgrimage across South America. There may be no need for the in-flight face masks after all.