In the last decade, meal delivery apps have revolutionised the way we eat, offering a level of convenience hardly seen before the rapid evolution of Digital Food Environments. With just a few taps on your phone, you can order from your favourite restaurant, receive personalised offers, track the delivery in real-time, and now even add a grocery pick-up to your order. While these apps have provided greater accessibility to meals, their rise has also raised important questions around how they influence consumer behaviour and how such food delivery technologies can be used to enable healthier and more sustainable purchases.
The Rapid Growth of Meal Delivery Apps
The widespread popularity of meal delivery apps like Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat has reshaped food consumption patterns globally, but more research is needed to truly understand the consumer impact. We know that online food-delivery services saw a significant increase in use during the COVID-19 pandemic, with lockdowns and physical-distancing giving the restaurant industry the opportunity to maintain their customer base. Digital platforms are likely to continue with use and growth particularly as consumer preferences shift towards digital solutions which are more convenient.
The Rise of Inequalities in Food Delivery
The rapid rise of meal delivery apps has revealed demographic divides in how and where they are used. For instance, a study by the Consumer Data Research Centre (CDRC) found a noticeable north-south divide in the city of Leeds. Areas with higher order frequencies coincided with lower socio-economic households, suggesting that people in more deprived neighbourhoods may rely more heavily on meal delivery apps but spend less per order. This aligns with findings from a BMJ Public Health study, which highlighted social inequalities in the use of these platforms and suggested a link between greater reliance on food delivery apps and higher weight status.
The convenience of meal delivery apps may also widen existing health disparities. People in lower-income areas tend to have fewer healthy food options available on these platforms, while being exposed to an overwhelming number of promotions for fast food and unhealthy meal options.
Graphics: @platefortheplanet
Health and Sustainability Challenges
The rise of meal delivery apps has not only impacted consumer habits but also raised significant concerns about health and sustainability. A 2024 review linked the use of online food retail platforms during the pandemic to increased risks of diet-related chronic diseases, partly due to the predominance of calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods available on these platforms.
At the same time, there are growing calls for delivery services to take greater responsibility for promoting healthier and more sustainable options. For instance, recent work by FOUR PAWS assessed several meal delivery apps on their efforts to reduce meat and dairy consumption and promote plant-based foods. Their findings show that most apps lacked comprehensive strategies to reduce their environmental impact, with few making meaningful changes to encourage plant-based diets.
However, one app has partnered with restaurants to introduce carbon labelling on selected menu items, showing how digital platforms could take a more active role in promoting sustainability. The integration of carbon scores, like the one seen on Just Eat, could be a step in the right direction, but it also raises broader questions: Should these apps also display health metrics? Could they limit promotions to those restaurants offering healthier or more sustainable meals?
Balancing health and sustainability is key when designing measures to improve public health. Yet, progress remains slow. A recent ‘fast food scorecard’ for quick service restaurants in Australia, many of which appear on meal delivery apps, found that slow progress is being made to improve their nutrition credentials, emphasising the need for further action across the board.
Recent research suggests that menu repositioning of meals on meal delivery apps based on environmental impact can reduce environmental footprint and improve the overall nutritional composition of meals purchased. This shows that there are win-win opportunities for health and sustainability in online purchases.
AI and Health Prediction Tools
Artificial intelligence (AI) is also becoming an influential tool in evaluating the meal delivery sector. Research conducted by University of Cambridge is exploring how AI can predict the healthiness of menu items based on nutritional content. This data-driven approach is a critical first step in understanding the offerings of food outlets and enabling targeted measures to improve public health. By analysing menus across the country, AI models could identify patterns in food availability and access, revealing any disparities linked to socio-economic factors and helping to address health inequalities.
In parallel, digital tools are being developed to monitor food environments and assess their impact on public health. These platforms have the potential to provide valuable insights into the types of food promoted online, guiding policymakers in creating healthier food environments. As AI and digital technologies advance, they could play an increasingly influential role in shaping the future of public health initiatives and food-related policymaking.
Regulating Meal Delivery Apps
The fast-paced growth of meal delivery apps has outpaced regulatory frameworks, leading to calls for better oversight of online food sales. The UK Government has already started to address some aspects of Digital Food Environments, such as the promotion of unhealthy products in paid-for online advertisements and calorie labelling, both of which apply to meal delivery apps. With their growing influence, it is important for both governments and businesses to ensure these platforms promote not only convenience but also health and sustainability.
Final Thoughts: The Future of Food Delivery
Meal delivery apps have become a staple in modern life, transforming how we access food. However, the convenience they offer comes with challenges related to health and sustainability. As the food delivery landscape continues to evolve, we need to develop a consistent approach to understanding and regulating these platforms. Whether through the introduction of health metrics, carbon labelling, or AI-driven insights into foods offered, the next phase of development for meal delivery apps should focus on balancing convenience with public health.
Understanding how these Digital Food Environments impact public health and the environment will be key to ensuring that they contribute positively to our future food system.
Useful References
Digital Food PhD 
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