As a high concentration of fast-food takeaway outlets has been linked to the prevalence of obesity in deprived areas, local authorities have shown a growing interest in business-focused healthier catering initiatives.
ESRC-funded research at London Met led by Susan Bagwell, Prof. Eileen O’Keefe and Simon Doff evaluated interventions aimed at fast-food businesses in deprived areas of London. The team’s work considered the type of changes that businesses could realistically make without compromising profitability.
The result? A ‘takeaway toolkit’ aimed at supporting takeaway businesses, their suppliers, and public health practitioners.
This research has had a significant impact on the food industry, contributing for example to changes in the marketing and business strategies of London’s main supplier to takeaway outlets.
Since its development, the toolkit has been used by all 33 London boroughs and adopted by several local authorities in England to promote healthier catering programmes.
Due to this success, Public Health England commissioned Bagwell to develop a new toolkit. With an expanded scope taking in the wider ‘out of home’ food environment, this second toolkit focused particularly on outlets serving children, young people and their families.
Read the REF 2021 case study in full.
Full case study written by Prof. Yolanda Eraso.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
