Researchers warn that meal delivery apps could undermine global nutrition efforts - here's how

Researchers warn that meal delivery apps could undermine global nutrition efforts - here's how

As meal delivery apps push fast food to billions, experts warn they are derailing public health efforts and requiring urgent action to track, regulate and rethink how we eat in the digital age.

A new perspective piece in theEuropean Journal of Clinical NutritionThey discussed how the rise of meal platforms represents the reshaping of global food environments. While these apps have made food more accessible, they can also hinder efforts to promote healthy eating and prevent diet-related illnesses. The authors emphasized that these platforms could operate with minimal government oversight and exploit regulatory loopholes to call for improved regulation and monitoring to mitigate potential risks and ensure they do not undermine global nutrition goals.

A global transformation

Food delivery apps are expanding beyond fast food – many now offer groceries, alcohol and even pharmaceuticals, bringing new concerns about choosing digital platforms to influence consumer choices.

Digital grocery environments, including online shopping, food delivery apps, and meal kit subscriptions, have changed the way people eat and often increase the fight against unhealthy options. Meal delivery apps in particular have expanded rapidly due to smartphone use and e-commerce growth with billions of users worldwide.

Research suggests that these apps primarily promote unhealthy fast food through value bundles and algorithmic visibility boosts, potentially contributing to poor diets and rising non-communicable diseases. The United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016–2025) aims to create supportive food environments, but the rise of digital food platforms may expand access to unhealthy foods beyond traditional neighborhood food environments, undermining these efforts.

Measuring the impact of food delivery platforms

Research is needed to assess how meal delivery platforms impact public health. Key areas of study include the types of foods promoted and sold, reasons for use, and demographic trends.

The convenience of ordering groceries for home delivery has contributed to a growing reliance on these platforms, which expanded significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many of these platforms now also deliver food, alcohol and pharmaceuticals, raising additional public health concerns.

Meal delivery apps mainly promote nutrient-poor but energy-dense foods. However, research on consumer purchases and their dietary impact remains limited. Studies show that most orders placed on these apps consist of unhealthy options such as fried chicken and pizza, reinforcing dietary patterns associated with non-communicable diseases.

Young people (16 to 35 years old) are the most common users, making them a critical group to study. Food and beverage companies are actively targeting youth through digital platforms to build lifelong brand loyalty. Future research should track real-time grocery purchases and explore “digital cohorts” to monitor how online grocery marketing influences young consumers.

Overview of the proposed research agenda to measure, monitor and mitigate the diet-related harms posed by meal delivery apps.

Monitoring the influence of meal delivery platforms

Digital app loyalty programs reward repeat purchases of fried foods and sugary drinks, creating habits that disproportionately affect income users.

Traditional research on food environments has focused on physical stores and restaurants in specific geographic areas. However, meal delivery platforms are creating “hybrid” food environments that combine digital and physical food access, challenging traditional concepts of neighborhood food availability.

This expansion could worsen existing inequalities, as studies suggest that fast food outlets are more concentrated in lower-income areas. Meal platforms may further expose vulnerable populations to unhealthy food marketing and exacerbate dietary disparities.

Some countries have developed tools to track the growth and impact of meal delivery platforms. However, more research is needed to assess how marketing techniques influence consumer behavior. These apps often use aggressive marketing strategies such as discounts and in-app promotions to steer consumers towards fast food over healthier alternatives. Research in this area could support stronger regulations to curb the negative effects of digital food marketing.

Mitigating public health risks

The regulatory gaps leave these platforms largely disabled, with traditional food policies not accounting for the digital shift in purchasing and consuming meals in the digital shift.

Currently, food delivery platforms operate with minimal regulations, despite concerns about the potential impact on public health. Research is needed to determine whether existing policies adequately cover these platforms and how new regulations can be developed.

Policies used in traditional food environments, such as calorie labeling and restrictions on unhealthy food marketing, could be adapted for digital platforms. For example, ensuring kilojoule labeling laws apply to digital menus could help consumers make more informed decisions. Additional measures may include highlighting healthier options in app menus or regulating pricing strategies that encourage fast food purchases.

Additionally, studying corporate tactics used by meal delivery apps can help understand how they resist regulation, similar to strategies used by gambling, food and alcohol industries. These tactics include lobbying against regulations, framing services as “consumer choice” solutions, and using algorithmic manipulation to promote unhealthy options. Understanding these strategies could inform public health efforts to hold companies accountable and reduce their influence on unhealthy eating habits.

Conclusions

The authors call for a research agenda to assess and regulate the impact of food delivery platforms on nutrition and public health. This agenda focuses on three key areas:

• Messung der Auswirkungen dieser Plattformen auf Diäten und Lebensmittelumgebungen.
• Überwachung ihres Einflusses mit großem Maßstab digitaler Lebensmittelverfolgungssysteme.
• Mildernde Gesundheitsrisiken durch adaptive politische Interventionen.

As the Food Decade draws to a close, continued efforts are important to sustain progress in promoting healthier food environments and shaping future global dietary policies.

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