Exploration of the current out of home landscape within small and independent outlets in Scotland

Summary

The Scottish Government (SG) Diet and healthy weight: out of home action plan includes a commitment for Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and Public Health Scotland (PHS) to develop an Eating Out, Eating Well (EOEW) Framework and a Code of Practice (COP) for children’s menus for out-of-home outlets. The EOEW framework and COP for children’s menus support achievement of the Scottish Dietary Goals and the SG ambition to halve childhood obesity by 2030. They will also support the delivery of the SG Good Food Nation ambition and wider food policies on food waste, local sourcing, and climate change.

View the Scottish Government's 'Diet and healthy weight: out of home action plan'.

Read about the Scottish Dietary Goals.

In collaboration with PHS, FSS commissioned Taylor MacKenzie to conduct research to further inform the development of the EOEW framework and COP for children’s menus. The research explored the following in a range of independent out-of-home outlets in Scotland:

• the type of foods and drinks available
• views on the benefits and barriers of the proposed principles within the EOEW framework and COP for children’s menus, and the type of support that would be required

Key findings

Types of food and drink provided

Soup, chicken, fish, sandwiches, steaks and burgers were the most popular food items sold. Coffee, wine, beer, tea, regular soft drinks and sugar free  soft drinks were the most popular drinks sold.

Many outlets offered fruit and vegetables in some capacity. The main reasons for limiting the amount of these on offer was due to perceived wastage and increasing costs associated with this food group. 

On average, around a fifth of the offerings on outlet menus were deep fried.

For children’s menus, sandwiches, meat dishes (burgers etc.), chicken (including nuggets), pizza, pasta and soup were the products sold most often.

The EOEW framework and COP for children’s menus

Generally, the framework principles which focused on reducing food waste, and local and ethical sourcing were deemed the most relevant and important. Conversely, the action on calories, portion sizes and increasing healthy choices were the principles deemed least relevant and important.

Overall, the outlets understood the significance of investing in children’s health, but felt the responsibility lies with parents and schools to teach children to make healthier choices.

Funding, sector specific guidance, documents in accessible languages, promotional materials and online support/dedicated support teams were the support materials which held the highest importance for successful implementation of the framework.