Nutritional Content of Popular Menu Items from Online Food Delivery Applications in Bangkok, Thailand: Are They Healthy?

Abstract

The rise in online food delivery (OFD) applications has increased access to a myriad of ready-to-eat options, which may lead to unhealthier food choices. Our objective was to assess the nutritional profile of popular menu items available through OFD applications in Bangkok, Thailand. We selected the top 40 popular menu items from three of the most commonly used OFD applications in 2021. Each menu item was collected from the top 15 restaurants in Bangkok for a total of 600 items. Nutritional contents were analysed by a professional food laboratory in Bangkok. Descriptive statistics were employed to describe the nutritional content of each menu item, including energy, fat, sodium, and sugar content. We also compared nutritional content to the World Health Organization's recommended daily intake values. The majority of menu items were considered unhealthy, with 23 of the 25 ready-to-eat menu items containing more than the recommended sodium intake for adults. Eighty percent of all sweets contained approximately 1.5 times more sugar than the daily recommendation. Displaying nutrition facts in the OFD applications for menu items and providing consumers with filters for healthier options are required to reduce overconsumption and improve consumer food choice.