Combo Deals, Junk Meals: A Systematic Review Examining the Healthiness of Foods Promoted on Meal Delivery Apps.

Abstract

Meal delivery apps increase access to unhealthy foods, contributing to an obesogenic environment. Promotions are widely used on these apps to influence consumer choice. This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on the healthiness of foods promoted on meal delivery apps. A systematic search for studies published from 2010 to November 2024 was conducted using three electronic academic databases and two search engines. Studies were included if they assessed promotion on third-party aggregator meal delivery apps and used an objective measure of healthiness. The search returned 1449 articles, of which nine articles from four countries met the inclusion criteria. Three studies assessed food outlet menus, two assessed individual menu items on app home pages, and five assessed menu items on outlet pages. Most studies found that unhealthy foods featured more prominently than healthy foods through combination deals, volume incentives, and prioritized placement. Findings from this review indicate that unhealthy menu items offered on meal delivery apps are more likely than healthy menu items to be the subject of promotional strategies. Considerable variation in study methods limited the quantitative integration of findings, highlighting the need for greater methodological consistency in this evolving research field. Building a strong evidence base will facilitate appropriate policy development to support healthier choices on meal delivery apps.