Introduction
Food choice is a complex behaviour shaped by food environments. The rapid growth of the online food retail environment (comprising online food delivery, online grocery, and meal kit subscription services) has added a new dimension to the food environments experienced by parents and children. However, the factors influencing their choices and the dietary impacts of engagement remain poorly understood. This scoping review explored factors influencing food choices in online food retail environments and their potential influence on diet-related outcomes among parents and children aged 2–18 years.
Methods
Five academic databases, including MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Global Health, and Scopus, were searched for peer-reviewed papers published in the English language in the last ten years. Findings were mapped to the Innocenti Framework on Food Systems for Children and Adolescents.
Results
Of 782 studies screened, 29 were included. All were conducted in high-income countries, with most examining online grocery services (n=20). Parents' and children's food choices in online food retail were influenced by personal and social influences, including demographics, eating behaviours and patterns, appetite, prior experience purchasing food online, and food preparation and cooking knowledge and behaviours. Among environmental factors, such as convenience and accessibility, emerged as key factors, while affordability, delivery fees, and gaps in food assistance policies were barriers to using these platforms. Dietary influence varied by platform type: online grocery shopping was associated with fewer impulsive purchases but lower odds of purchasing fresh produce and perishables. Four studies of meal kit programmes reported increased dietary variety and vegetable intake, while evidence on online food delivery was limited.
Discussion
Various Personal, social, and environmental factors influence parents' and children's food purchasing decisions on online food retail platforms. As online food retail becomes an increasingly prominent food procurement channel, these findings highlight the need to create health-enabling online food retail environments that support healthy food choices.