ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To analyse food advertised on an online food delivery (OFD) platform during 16 weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. DESIGN: Longitudinal study. We randomly selected foods advertised on the OFD app's home page, classifying the food items into water; natural juices and smoothies; vegetables; fruits; traditional meals and pasta; ultra-processed beverages; ice cream and candies, and salty packaged snacks; sandwiches; savoury snacks; and pizza. We also registered the marketing strategies used to promote the food items, such as photos, discounts, 'combo deals', and messages on healthiness, value for the money, tastiness, and pleasure. SETTING: Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: 1,593 food items. RESULTS: In general, the OFD platform most commonly promoted traditional meals and pasta, ultra-processed beverages, and sandwiches-these food groups were offered 20-25% of the time during the 16 weeks. There were no promotions for water during the whole period, and the least common promotions were those for natural juices and smoothies, vegetables, and fruits (<5%). The most common food promotion strategies were photos (>80%) and discounts (>95%), while approximately 30% of the offers featured combo deals. Messages on tastiness, pleasure, and value for the money varied from 15% to 40%. CONCLUSION: Although the OFD platform offered traditional meals and pasta, most of the foods and beverages advertised were unhealthy and promoted with persuasive strategies. This finding highlights a growing public health concern: an increase in unhealthy eating patterns during the pandemic.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Food delivery apps represent an important and emerging dimension of the digital food environment. This study aimed to examine food availability and the use of marketing strategies by two food delivery apps in a Brazilian metropolis. DESIGN: An exploratory study was conducted in the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. Food groups were identified and the use of price discounts and photos by the apps was observed. SETTING: Eighteen neighbourhoods and the ten best rated restaurants in each app. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred sixty-two commercial food establishments. RESULTS: The proportion of ultra-processed beverages on offer in the apps (78·45 %) was much higher in comparison with water (48·89 %), natural juices or smoothies (27·07 %). Ultra-processed ready-to-eat meals represented almost 70 % of the food offered in the establishments' menus, while traditional meals and vegetables represented just over 30 % of the offering. Ice cream, candies and salty packaged snacks were nine times more frequently presented than fruits. The use of photos and price discounts prevailed predominantly among ultra-processed beverages, sandwiches and ice cream, candies and salty packaged snacks. These marketing strategies were least used for promoting fruits and vegetables. CONCLUSIONS: Restaurants registered on food delivery apps offered a significant amount of ultra-processed foods with price discounts and photos in comparison with unprocessed and minimally processed foods.
