Food delivery apps leaving out nutritional info

Large food outlets leave out nutritional information on food delivery apps, a study has revealed. (Flavio Brancaleone/AAP PHOTOS)

Outdated NSW menu labelling laws are allowing large food outlets to leave out nutritional information on food delivery apps, a study has revealed. 

The University of Sydney study shows that menu items for major food outlets such as McDonald's and KFC on food delivery apps are missing information on food that would help consumers make healthy choices. 

The 2011 NSW Menu Labelling Scheme requires large fast-food outlets to display the average kilojoule content on menu items. 

But the study's lead author SiSi Jia said that was not being done on online food delivery platforms. 

"Just because it is online doesn't mean that the rules or regulations should be different," Ms Jia said. 

She said the laws were written in a time when only traditional food environments were in mind, but since the pandemic the use of food delivery apps had increased. 

"We need to update them, but we also need to make sure that they're well monitored and enforced," Ms Jia said. 

According to market research company Roy Morgan, in 2022 around 40 per cent of people in Australian capital cities were using food delivery apps. 

The defintion of large food outlets are franchises or chains with more than 20 locations in the state or 50 locations nationally. 

The study reviewed 43 unique large food outlets with a total of 482 menus from UberEats, Menulog and Deliveroo included, with Deliveroo no longer in operation in the country. 

Ms Jia told AAP that 94 per cent of menus of large food outlets had incomplete kilojoule labelling. 

"We found that less than 6 per cent of menus on third party delivery apps had complete kilojoule labelling," she said. 

The research found that there were also inconsistencies between different locations for the same franchise store and between the type of delivery service. 

"Displaying the kilojoule content on a menu item is important to help people make more informed health choices," Ms Jia said. 

"There are multiple studies that show menu labelling have real world impact."

NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said the state government was working with other jurisdictions on a coordinated national approach to menu labelling.

"Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) have been requested to prepare a proposal for a food regulatory measure for menu labelling under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code," she said in a statement.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store