Łukašenka demands fast-food chain switch fully to local potatoes

August 28, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka has directed the Mak.by fast-food chain, which replaced McDonald’s in Belarus two years ago, to use only domestically grown potatoes, Pul Pervogo, his press office’s unofficial Telegram channel reports.
“Starting October 1, Mak.by must not use any imported potatoes or cutlets. Everything on the menu should be Belarusian. Why are you feeding people this American junk?” he said while visiting the Mahiloŭ region’s Kiraŭsk district.
Łukašenka was confident that this year’s potato harvest would be “sufficient,” pointing to an expansion in cultivated areas. He emphasized that Belarusian potatoes would be in high demand abroad, especially in Russia.
He also called on potato suppliers to “establish clear links with retail chains to ensure that potatoes are delivered to stores on time and that the situation that occurred this spring does not repeat itself,” in a reference to potato shortages earlier this year.
In 2024, Belarus’ potato harvest was 22.5 percent lower than in 2023.
Potato prices drop nearly 5 percent after months of sharp increases
- Politics, SportWorld Taekwondo Council allows Belarusian athletes compete under their flagThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyFires claim 129 lives since year's startThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityPoland reports another airspace incident involving BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecuritySecurity Council chief: first stage of surprise drill completedThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyTwo Belarusians to stand trial in Poland over air smuggling chargesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition leader marks 34th anniversary of Belarus joining OSCEThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarusian banks’ profits up 24 percent in 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Germany news, PoliticsBerlin seeks to shield personal data of Belarusian aid recipientsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- PoliticsLithuania's top diplomat dismisses talks with Minsk as unrealisticThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyIndividuals’ debt on loans up by nearly 14 percent in 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyFive taxi company executives charged over “gray wages” schemeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyAgriculture ministry reports record food export growth in 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsInterior ministry blacklists Belarusians’ association in northern PolandThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsEU Commissioner Kubilius opposes easing sanctions on BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsInterior ministry adds 12 to list of extremistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics
- Politics, SecurityEU considers visa restrictions on countries that weaponize migrationThe material is available only to POZIRK+



