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Gupta A, Sacks G, Cameron AJ, Huggins CE, Peeters A, Backholer K, Vanderlee L, White CM, Scapin T, Gomez-Donoso C, Bennett R, Dubin JA, Hammond D. Use of online food delivery services among adults in five countries from the International Food Policy Study 2018-2021. Prev Med Rep 2024; 43:102766. [PMID: 38840830 PMCID: PMC11152731 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2024.102766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim Online food delivery services (OFDS) are popular for purchasing meals prepared outside home, increasing access to energy-dense and nutrient-poor foods. This adversely impacts dietary choices and health outcomes. Our study examined trends in OFDS use in Australia, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US) from 2018 to 2021. Methods Repeated annual cross-sectional data was sourced from the International Food Policy Study for five countries among adults over 18 years (N = 83,337). Weighted estimates for trends in i) the proportion of the respondent's purchasing meals per week using OFDS, and ii) average number (and standard deviation (SD)) of meals purchased per week using OFDS were assessed. Logistic regression models were fitted. Findings OFDS use increased among adults between 2018-2021 (Australia: 17 % of respondents purchased at least one meal in the last 7 days using OFDS in 2018 to 25 % in 2021, Canada: 12 % to 19 %, Mexico: 28 % to 38 %, UK: 19 % to 28 %, and US: 17 % to 21 %). Average number of meals purchased per week outside home remained consistent for all countries over time (e.g., in Australia, 2.70 (SD 0.06) meals in 2018 and 2.63 (SD 0.06) in 2021). However, average number of meals purchased using OFDS nearly doubled between 2018 and 2021 (e.g., in Australia, 0.45 (SD 0.03) meals in 2018 to 0.81 (SD 0.04) in 2021). Conclusion OFDS use is increasing and are substituting the conventional forms of purchasing meals outside home. Nutritional quality of foods sold, marketing practices and purchasing patterns on OFDS deserve further attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adyya Gupta
- Deakin University, Geelong, Australia, Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Gary Sacks
- Deakin University, Geelong, Australia, Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Adrian J. Cameron
- Deakin University, Geelong, Australia, Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Catherine E. Huggins
- Deakin University, Geelong, Australia, Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Anna Peeters
- Deakin University, Geelong, Australia, Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Kathryn Backholer
- Deakin University, Geelong, Australia, Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Lana Vanderlee
- School of Nutrition, Centre NUTRISS (Nutrition, santé et société), Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Christine M. White
- School of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Tailane Scapin
- Deakin University, Geelong, Australia, Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Clara Gomez-Donoso
- Deakin University, Geelong, Australia, Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Rebecca Bennett
- Deakin University, Geelong, Australia, Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Joel A Dubin
- School of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - David Hammond
- School of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
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Bennett R, Keeble M, Zorbas C, Sacks G, Driessen C, Grigsby-Duffy L, Adams J, Burgoine T, Backholer K. The potential influence of the digital food retail environment on health: A systematic scoping review of the literature. Obes Rev 2024; 25:e13671. [PMID: 38104965 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The digital food retail environment (defined in this study as a digital platform, app or website where food can be purchased by individuals for personal consumption) is an emerging component of the wider food system. We aimed to systematically search and review the literature to understand the potential influence of the digital food retail environment on population diets and health. METHODS Four databases (across health, business, and marketing) and grey literature were searched using terms relating to "food and beverages," "digital," and "purchasing." Identified studies were included if they examined any aspect of the digital food retail environment where outcomes were examined with a health-related focus and were published before September 2023. All study designs were included (quantitative, qualitative, observational, and experimental). Reviews and conference abstracts were excluded. RESULTS We identified 21,382 studies, of which 57 articles were eligible for inclusion. Of the 57 included studies, 30 studies examined online grocery retail, 22 examined online food delivery platforms, and five examined meal kit subscription services. Of the 30 studies examining online grocery retail, six studies reported that customers believed they purchased fewer unhealthy food and beverages when shopping online, compared with shopping in-store. Nevertheless, customers also reported that their ability to choose healthy foods and beverages was reduced when shopping online due to difficulty in product comparison. Studies that examined online food delivery platforms primarily found that they promoted unhealthy foods and beverages more often than healthy options, through extensive use of marketing practices such as price discounts and images, and that unhealthy food offerings on these platforms dominate. Meal kit subscription services offered mostly healthy meals, with studies suggesting that these types of services may help individuals alleviate some of their "mental load" and stress related to cooking meals for their families. CONCLUSIONS The literature describing the digital food retail environment was found to be diverse, with different aspects having potential to impact health in different ways. Some evidence suggests that online grocery retail and meal kit subscription services may have positive population dietary impacts, whereas online food delivery platforms appear likely to promote unhealthy food purchasing. However, the current evidence base is fragmented, with many knowledge gaps. Further research is required to understand the influence of the digital food retail environment on population diets and how these environments can be designed to support healthy food choices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Bennett
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthew Keeble
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 285 Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Christina Zorbas
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gary Sacks
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christine Driessen
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lily Grigsby-Duffy
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jean Adams
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 285 Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Thomas Burgoine
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 285 Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kathryn Backholer
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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Logan AC, D'Adamo CR, Prescott SL. The Founder: Dispositional Greed, Showbiz, and the Commercial Determinants of Health. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20095616. [PMID: 37174136 PMCID: PMC10178243 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20095616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Marketing unhealthy products by multinational corporations has caused considerable harm to individual health, collective wellbeing, and environmental sustainability. This is a growing threat to all societies and a significant contributor to the rising global burden of non-communicable diseases and early mortality. While there is growing consideration of the commercial determinants of health, this is largely focused on the methods by which unhealthy products are marketed and disseminated, including efforts to manipulate policy. Little attention has been paid to the underlying psychological traits and worldviews that are driving corporate greed. Here, we consider the role of "dispositional greed" in the commercial determinants of health with a focus on the historical attitudes and culture in the ultra-processed food industry-exemplified by "The Founder" of the McDonald's franchise. We argue that greed and associated psychological constructs, such as social dominance orientation and collective narcissism, permeate the commercial determinants of health at a collective level. This includes how a culture of greed within organizations, and individual dispositional greed, can magnify and cluster at scale, perpetuated by social dominance orientation. We also consider the ways in which "showbiz" marketing specifically targets marginalized populations and vulnerable groups, including children-in ways that are justified, or even celebrated despite clear links to non-communicable diseases and increased mortality. Finally, we consider how greed and exploitative mindsets mirror cultural values and priorities, with trends for increasing collective narcissism at scale, recognizing that many of these attitudes are cultivated in early life. A healthier future will depend on navigating a path that balances material prosperity with physical and spiritual wellbeing. This will require cultural change that places higher value on kindness, reciprocity, and mutualistic values especially in early life, for more equitable flourishing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan C Logan
- Nova Institute for Health, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Christopher R D'Adamo
- Nova Institute for Health, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Susan L Prescott
- Nova Institute for Health, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Medical School, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
- The ORIGINS Project, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
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Duthie C, Pocock T, Curl A, Clark E, Norriss D, Bidwell S, McKerchar C, Crossin R. Online on-demand delivery services of food and alcohol: A scoping review of public health impacts. SSM Popul Health 2023; 21:101349. [PMID: 36845670 PMCID: PMC9950721 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The increase in availability of online on-demand food and alcohol delivery services has changed the way unhealthy commodities are accessed and understood. We conducted a systematic scoping review of academic and grey literature to map the current knowledge of public health and regulatory/policy outcomes arising from on-demand food and alcohol delivery (defined as delivery within 2 h). We systematically searched three electronic databases and completed supplementary forward citation searches and Google Scholar searches. In total, we screened 761 records (de-duplicated) and synthesised findings from 40 studies by commodity types (on-demand food or alcohol) and outcome focus (outlet, consumer, environmental, labour). Outlet-focused outcomes were most common (n = 16 studies), followed by consumer (n = 11), environmental (n = 7), and labour-focused (n = 6) outcomes. Despite geographical and methodological diversity of studies, results indicate that on-demand delivery services market unhealthy and discretionary foods, with disadvantaged communities having reduced access to healthy commodities. Services that deliver alcohol on-demand can also subvert current alcohol access restrictions, particularly through poor age verification processes. Underpinning these public health impacts is the multi-layered nature of on-demand services and context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which creates ongoing complications as to how populations access food and alcohol. Changing access to unhealthy commodities is an emerging issue in public health. Our scoping review considers priority areas for future research to better inform policy decisions. Current regulation of food and alcohol may not appropriately cover emerging on-demand technologies, necessitating a review of policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassian Duthie
- University of Otago Medical School, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Tessa Pocock
- School of Nursing, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand,Department of Population Health, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Angela Curl
- Department of Population Health, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Elinor Clark
- University of Otago Medical School, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Dru Norriss
- Department of Population Health, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Susan Bidwell
- Department of Population Health, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Christina McKerchar
- Department of Population Health, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Rose Crossin
- Department of Population Health, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand,Corresponding author. Department of Population Health University of Otago (Christchurch), 34 Gloucester St, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand.
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Dai X, Wu L, Hu W. Nutritional quality and consumer health perception of online delivery food in the context of China. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2132. [DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14593-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Today, the popularization of mobile internet technology has enabled the public’s need for food convenience and diversity arising from modern fast-paced lifestyles to be met at a relatively low cost. The digital age of the restaurant industry has arrived. Online food delivery (OFD) is rapidly developing globally. However, the public’s awareness of the nutritional quality of food through OFD and their knowledge of dietary nutrition remain to be investigated.
Methods
In the context of China, this study attempts to evaluate the nutritional quality of best-selling OFD set meals (i.e., meal combos) based on the current official Chinese dietary guidelines 2022. It accomplishes this by collecting data on popular OFD restaurants among consumers in 115 Chinese universities from the restaurants’ delivery addresses. Moreover, 20,430 valid questionnaires were collected online from undergraduates, graduate students, and other young groups aged 18–30 throughout China for descriptive analysis to investigate consumers’ perceptions of the nutritional quality of food through OFD and its health impact.
Results
The results of the nutritional quality evaluation of the OFD set meals ranged widely from 15 to 85, with a mean of 36.57 out of a possible maximum score of 100; and 89.56% scored less than 50. The nutritional quality of OFD foods was thus generally low. The nutritional quality of foods was negatively correlated with their popularity among consumers.
Conclusions
Young OFD consumers generally paid low attention to dietary nutrition knowledge and seldom paid attention to nutritional quality when choosing OFD foods while the nutritional quality of OFD foods was generally low. Respondents subjectively reported that long-term consumption of OFD food caused weight gain, increased blood lipids, and gastrointestinal discomfort. They thought that the reason might be excessive oil, salt, and sugar in the food, while ignoring the balance between different types of food.
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Li Y, Yao P, Osman S, Zainudin N, Sabri MF. A Thematic Review on Using Food Delivery Services during the Pandemic: Insights for the Post-COVID-19 Era. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15267. [PMID: 36429983 PMCID: PMC9690128 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192215267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The food delivery service is the most typical and visible example of online-to-offline (O2O) commerce. More consumers are using food delivery services for various reasons during the COVID-19 pandemic, making this business model viral worldwide. In the post-pandemic era, offering food delivery services will become the new normal for restaurants. Although a growing number of publications have focused on consumer behavior in this issue, no review paper has addressed current research and industry trends. Thus, this paper aims to review the literature published from 2020 to the present (October 2022) on consumers' use of food delivery services during the pandemic. A thematic review was conducted, with 40 articles searched from Scopus and Web of Science being included. Quantitative findings showed current research trends, and thematic analyses formed eight themes of factors influencing consumer behavior: (1) technical and utilitarian factors, (2) system-related attributes, (3) emotional and hedonic factors, (4) individual characteristics, (5) service quality, (6) risk-related factors, (7) social factors, and (8) food-related attributes. The paper also emphasizes COVID-19-related influences and suggests promising future research directions. The results offer insights into industry practices and starting points for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yezheng Li
- Business School, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Pinyi Yao
- Faculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
| | - Syuhaily Osman
- Faculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
| | - Norzalina Zainudin
- Faculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
| | - Mohamad Fazli Sabri
- Faculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
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Norriss D, Crossin R, Curl A, Bidwell S, Clark E, Pocock T, Gage R, McKerchar C. Food Outlet Access and the Healthiness of Food Available ‘On-Demand’ via Meal Delivery Apps in New Zealand. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14204228. [PMID: 36296912 PMCID: PMC9607030 DOI: 10.3390/nu14204228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Access to unhealthy commodities is a key factor determining consumption, and therefore influences the prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Recently, there has been an increase in the availability of food ‘on-demand’ via meal delivery apps (MDAs). However, the public health and equity impacts of this shift are not yet well understood. This study focused on three MDAs in New Zealand and aimed to answer (1) what is the health profile of the foods being offered on-demand, (2) how many food outlets are available and does this differ by physical access or neighbourhood demographics and (3) does the health profile of foods offered differ by physical access or neighbourhood demographics? A dataset was created by sampling a set of street addresses across a range of demographic variables, and recording the menu items and number of available outlets offered to each address. Machine learning was utilised to evaluate the healthiness of menu items, and we examined if healthiness and the number of available outlets varied by neighbourhood demographics. Over 75% of menu items offered by all MDAs were unhealthy and approximately 30% of all menu items across the three MDAs scored at the lowest level of healthiness. Statistically significant differences by demographics were identified in one of the three MDAs in this study, which suggested that the proportion of unhealthy foods offered was highest in areas with the greatest socioeconomic deprivation and those with a higher proportion of Māori population. Policy and regulatory approaches need to adapt to this novel mode of access to unhealthy foods, to mitigate public health consequences and the effects on population groups already more vulnerable to non-communicable diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dru Norriss
- Department of Population Health, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand
| | - Rose Crossin
- Department of Population Health, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand
| | - Angela Curl
- Department of Population Health, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand
| | - Susan Bidwell
- Department of Population Health, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand
| | - Elinor Clark
- Department of Population Health, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand
| | - Tessa Pocock
- Department of Population Health, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand
- School of Nursing, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
| | - Ryan Gage
- Department of Public Health, University of Otago Wellington, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
| | - Christina McKerchar
- Department of Population Health, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +64-(3)-3643638
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