Characteristics and nutrient profiles of foods and beverages on online food delivery systems

Chin, Jia Wen and Loh, Wendy Mei Ling and Ooi, Yasmin Beng Houi and Khor, Ban Hock (2025) Characteristics and nutrient profiles of foods and beverages on online food delivery systems. Nutrition Bulletin, 50. pp. 250-261. ISSN 1471-9827

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Abstract

Recently, there has been an emerging trend of purchasing foods and beverages via online food delivery systems but there is scarce evidence on the healthfulness of these items, particularly in Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics and nutrient profiles of foods and beverages available via online food delivery systems in Malaysia. This cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2022 to March 2023 to identify foods and beverages available on the Grab Food and Foodpanda mobile applications. The healthfulness of selected foods and beverages was determined based on the Food Standards Agency Nutrient Profiling System. The present study included 3729 foods and 1882 beverages. Most of the foods were cereal-based dishes (37.4%), followed by cereals with protein-based dishes (12.8%) and meat or poultry-based dishes (12.0%), while most of the beverages were local handcrafted beverages (27.8%), followed by bubble milk tea (15.0%) and Western handcrafted beverages (14.6%). For protein dishes, deep-frying or battered-frying was the most common preparation method (33.8%) while most of the cereal-based dishes were stir-fried (76.7%). Out of 23 common foods, 15 foods (65%) were categorised as less healthy based on the nutrient profile score while 19 out of 24 (79%) common beverages were categorised as less healthy. The online food delivery systems feature predominantly local foods and beverages that are less healthy, potentially contributing to the development of an obesogenic environment.

Item Type:	Article
Keyword:	Access to healthy foods, Food environment, Food trends, Meal delivery apps, Nutrient profile, Sugar sweetened beverages
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA1-1270 Public aspects of medicine > RA421-790.95 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive medicine T Technology > TX Home economics > TX1-1110 Home economics > TX341-641 Nutrition. Foods and food supply
Department:	FACULTY > Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition
Depositing User:	SITI AZIZAH BINTI IDRIS -
Date Deposited:	11 Aug 2025 09:56
Last Modified:	11 Aug 2025 09:56
URI:	https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/44848

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