How did labelling provision on menus for online food delivery change after implementation of England's calorie labelling regulations?

Abstract

This study describes the provision of calorie labelling in the digital out-of-home food sector after the implementation of mandatory calorie labelling for large businesses in England in April 2022. Using online menu data from two major food delivery services between June 2022 and October 2023, the number of restaurants available for delivery and the share of restaurants displaying calories was determined for every neighbourhood (Lower layer Super Output Area/Data Zone) in Great Britain. Among restaurants that display calories, we determined the share of labelled menu items and these items' calorie content. We assessed differences by area deprivation and restaurant type. Online food delivery was available in ∼89% of Great Britain, with more restaurants available in more deprived neighbourhoods. The share of restaurants that display calories was overall low and decreasing over time (median 14% in June 2022 to 12% in October 2023), and was lowest in most deprived (9%) compared with 14% in the least deprived neighbourhoods in October 2023. Among restaurants displaying calories, the share of labelled items was high (79%-76%), while calorie content decreased slightly (by 14 kcal/food item and 5 kcal/drink item). Changes by deprivation were limited and heterogenous by restaurant type. The observed, small reduction in median calorie content may suggest positive, structural change and warrants further investigation. However, the coverage of calorie labelling is limited, and the lower provision in more deprived neighbourhoods may widen dietary health inequalities.