Digital food environment of a Brazilian metropolis: food availability and marketing strategies used by delivery apps

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.