The ripple effects of Online Food Delivery Services on human and planetary health: Policy actions for healthy and sustainable future
Online Food Delivery Services are a popular format for acquiring quick and easy out-of-home meals. This platform offers the perfect mix of convenience and indulgence delivered at your doorstep, but at what cost? This week, VicHealth (@VicHealth) Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr. Adyya Gupta (@AdyyaGupta) from Deakin University (@IHT_Deakin @GLOBE_Deakin) discusses the ripple effects of Online Food Delivery Services on human and planetary health, and offers policy actions for a healthy and sustainable future.
Use of online food delivery services is widespread
Online food delivery services cut across a range of health concerns, including for the delivery people who are considered independent contractors, often young and of migrant background. Photo credit: Photo by Patrick Connor Klopf on Unsplash
In the last few years and following pandemic lockdowns, online food delivery services have transformed the way we eat, work, and interact with our (complex) food environment. Platforms like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Deliveroo offer unparalleled convenience for consumers and a flexible source of income for delivery workers. Our recent work showed a rising trend in the use of these online food delivery services in Australia, Cananda, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States. However, this increase in the use and rapid expansion of the online food delivery sector has raised important questions about its public health implications—spanning the health of consumers, workers, and the sustainability of our planet. Building strong public health policies are central to addressing these complex wicked challenges and creating a healthier and more sustainable future, in a rapidly evolving world of digital transformation.
Impact on consumer health and recommended actions
The public health impact of online food delivery services is a multifaceted issue. For consumers, these platforms provide quick and easy access to out-of-home meals, but often at the expense of poor health offerings. Our latest study found that over three quarters of Australians purchased at least one meal using online food delivery services between 2018 and 2021. The majority of the food on offer on online food delivery platforms are calorie-dense and lack essential nutrients. Regular consumption of out-of-home meals (particularly fast food) are linked to high daily energy intakes and an increased risk of adverse health outcomes including obesity, diet-related chronic diseases such as type-2 diabetes, heart disease, oral diseases and some cancers. The dominance and allure of quick, indulgent meals over healthier options are influencing consumer food choices on this platform. With younger people and those living with children as the biggest consumer segments using the online food delivery platforms, these services, through targeted and personalised marketing practices, exacerbate poor eating habits and health inequalities more generally. Addressing this public health problem requires actionable policies such as mandatory nutrition labelling, increased visibility and availability of healthier food options, and restricting consumers’ exposure to unhealthy food and brand marketing within and outside the online food delivery services, among others. With a strong regulatory framework in place, monitoring the industries’ adherence to the polices will foster transparency and enable informed food choices, thereby promoting a healthier relationship between convenience and food choice on online food delivery services.
(Dual) Impact on delivery worker’s health and recommended actions
In 2022-23, 35% Australians were engaged in online food delivery platform work. Young people and migrants, particularly those from cultural, linguistic and ethnically diverse backgrounds, make up the majority of the workforce. Delivery workers form the backbone of online food delivery platforms, yet their health and well-being often go overlooked. While the gig economy offers flexibility for food delivery workers, it also poses significant psychosocial health risks. Financial instability or the precarious nature of the short-term work resulting in psychosocial stressors (including work overload, time pressures, job insecurity, and stress) are well-established risk factors for poor mental health and chronic health conditions. Furthermore, as these delivery workers are highly mobile and have time constraints, they are likely to engage in poor dietary practices, thereby increasing the risk of developing diet-related chronic diseases. Improving delivery workers' health requires a concerted effort from industries and policymakers. Establishing safe working environments and facilitating mental health support can ensure these workers thrive rather than merely survive in their work. As online food delivery services continue to grow, prioritising the health and safety (including from road accidents) of workers is an essential step toward creating a more equitable and sustainable online food delivery sector.
Impact on planet health and recommended actions
The environmental toll of online food delivery services is becoming increasingly evident. From the pervasive use of single-use plastics in packaging to emissions from delivery vehicles, the carbon footprint of this industry is substantial, exacerbating global climate challenges. If left unmonitored, these practices could severely impact planetary health, undermining global efforts to combat climate change and protect biodiversity. Transitioning to electric vehicles or drones for deliveries, adopting reusable or biodegradable packaging, and promoting responsible waste disposal practices are potential strategies that can reduce environmental harm caused by online food delivery services. Tools to standardise monitoring of greener practices through collaborative efforts between online food delivery sector and governments are needed to align with global efforts to preserve the planet for future generations.
Way forward
In recognition of Global Public Health Week (7-14th April 2025) and the upcoming 2025 federal elections in Australia, we highlight the urgent need for and importance of robust evidence-based action-oriented public health policies in addressing systemic issues as a result of the evolving online food delivery services. By fostering collaboration across sectors and embracing innovative evidence-based solutions, we can pave the way for a healthier, equitable and sustainable future. Digital food environment offers both opportunities and challenges for public health and sustainability and therefore prioritising health-enabling policies must be at the forefront to safeguard health of the population and planet for future generations.
Adyya Gupta currently holds a VicHealth Postdoctoral Research Fellowship which examines how online food delivery platforms market to and influence young people’s ordering choices. Her views may not reflect the position of VicHealth.
Posted by Susan Maury (@SusanMaury)