Food bosses have warned that ‘aggressive’ online promotions, ‘cheap upsizing’, and meal deals are making it harder to eat healthily as new research shows Scots eat out every single day.

A new study conducted by Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and the University of Edinburgh, involving more than 1,000 Scots adults, found that people eat out of home on average seven times a week.

The research highlights concerns about the wider food environment, including the prevalence of high-calorie options, meal deals and the promotion of foods high in fat, sugar and salt. 

In its report, the FSS states that ‘frequently eating out of home is associated with higher intakes of calories, saturated fat, salt and sugar in the diet,’ adding that the results of the study reinforce concerns ‘that the food environment that surrounds us today negatively impacts our diets’.

It adds: ‘Convenient “on the go” foods are shaping Scotland’s food environment and dominating out-of-home eating.

‘The wide availability of foods high in fat, sugar and salt, combined with aggressive online promotions, cheap upsizing and multi-item meal deals creates an out-of-home environment that makes eating well harder.’

Meals and snacks bought from cafes, restaurants, takeaways and shops is now said to make up 20 per cent of the calories consumed by adults every day, rising to about 30 per cent among those who eat out most often.

Most calories from out-of-home food came from everyday foods such as sandwiches, pizzas, chips, chicken dishes and cakes.

Evidence from an FSS supplementary report shows takeaway meals from fast food outlets often contained the most calories, with nearly half totalling more than 1,200 calories, more than half of an adult’s daily calorie intake.

The research found that food eaten ‘on the go’ from supermarkets and convenience stores was the most commonly consumed, while cafes and coffee shops were also among the most frequently visited out-of-home outlets.

The findings come at a time when nearly one in three adults in Scotland lives with obesity and almost one in five children is at risk, underlining the importance of improving the food environment to make healthier, affordable food in reach of everyone.

Laura Wilson, head of public health nutrition at FSS, said: ‘Eating out of home is now a routine part of everyday life in Scotland, not just something we do on special occasions.

‘While it can be convenient and enjoyable, the food on offer often makes it difficult to eat well.’