A recent study highlights serious food deserts in London, where many residents struggle to find affordable and nutritious food. This research, led by Tayla Broadbridge and her team from the University of Nottingham, focuses on areas like Newham, Redbridge, and Barking and Dagenham in East London, as well as parts of Ealing and Brent in West London.
Food deserts are concerning because they link to rising issues such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. To improve public health, it’s crucial to identify these areas and understand the challenges residents face in accessing healthy food.
The researchers analyzed purchase data from Tesco Grocery, studying 420 million food items bought by 1.6 million Clubcard customers in London during 2015. This data was linked to where the customers lived but kept anonymous to protect their identities.
The findings revealed that people in certain boroughs bought more sugary and processed foods while consuming fewer fresh fruits and vegetables. Interestingly, the inner north-west of London showed healthier purchasing habits compared to East London and other western areas.
The study also found that different income levels affected food choices. In some parts of East and West London, higher income was linked to less nutritious purchases, while in the inner-west, it was the opposite. Additionally, areas with higher populations of Black, Asian, and minority ethnic residents tended to show more nutrient-deficient shopping patterns.
This research provides valuable insights, showing that a simple map of grocery stores doesn’t reflect true access to healthy food. Instead, actual purchasing data reveals where residents’ diets may be lacking.
Experts like Dr. James Green, a public health advocate, stress the importance of using data-driven approaches to address these disparities: “Understanding local eating habits is key to creating effective health initiatives.”
This study is a step forward in addressing food inequality in urban areas, allowing for more targeted health strategies that consider local contexts.
For the full details, you can access the study in the journal PLOS Complex Systems here: PLOS Complex Systems.
Citation
Broadbridge TP, Green JEF, Preston SP, Fadai NT, Maclean J (2025) Food purchase data reveals the locations of London’s ‘food deserts’. PLOS Complex Syst 2(11): e0000072. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcsy.0000072.
