Health

Grocery data reveals stark food deserts and oases in London, highlighting impact of socioeconomic disparities

Friday, 7 November 2025 5:04AM UTC

A comprehensive study analysing grocery purchasing patterns across London uncovers significant disparities in diet quality, with low-income areas facing limited access to nutritious foods and higher consumption of ultra-processed options, prompting calls for targeted interventions.

New research analysing grocery purchasing data from 1.6 million London residents has revealed stark disparities in diet quality across the capital, identifying clear 'food deserts' where access to nutritious food is limited, and conversely 'food oases' where healthier eating prevails. The study, published in PLOS Complex Systems, used Tesco Clubcard purchase records to map nutritional patterns across boroughs, offering a more precise picture of food access than traditional supermarket location data.

The analysis highlighted large clusters of food deserts predominantly in London’s east end boroughs such as Newham, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, along with parts of west London including Ealing and Brent. Residents in these areas tend to buy higher quantities of sugar, refined carbohydrates, and ultra-processed foods, which are linked to negative health outcomes like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. In contrast, inner north-west boroughs such as Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, Westminster, as well as parts of Southwark, Wandsworth, Camden, and Islington, showed purchasing patterns rich in fruits, vegetables and fish, characteristic of food oases.

Lead researcher Tayla Broadbridge from the University of Nottingham emphasised the importance of focusing on actual food purchases rather than simply the presence of food stores. “A map of food stores only shows potential access – food purchase data shows the reality, revealing where Londoners' diets are nutritionally deficient,” she said. The study found that food deserts correlate strongly with socioeconomic factors, particularly income levels, with lower-income households more likely to purchase less healthy foods. Additionally, these areas have a higher proportion of Black, Asian, and minority ethnic residents, illustrating an intersection of dietary inequality with social and ethnic disparities.

The researchers pointed out that shopping at smaller Tesco Express stores, more common in these food desert areas, tends to be about 10% more expensive than larger supermarkets. This cost differential can amount to over £800 annually, highlighting financial barriers as a key driver of unhealthy diets. They advocate for targeted, localised interventions to address this, rather than one-size-fits-all solutions struggling to account for the complex socioeconomic and geographic factors influencing food choices.

The study’s findings resonate with previous public health research linking limited access to affordable, nutritious food with higher rates of obesity and associated diseases. In London, over 61% of adults are classified as overweight or obese, and childhood obesity rates exceed the England average. Researchers from the University of Nottingham and the University of Adelaide emphasise that rapid urbanisation, increased availability of processed foods and shifting lifestyles are contributing to these dietary changes in sprawling urban environments.

Moreover, this approach to understanding food deserts through purchase data expands on earlier geospatial analyses that connect poor access to supermarkets in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods with unhealthy eating patterns. It also supports broader calls for public health policies aimed at increasing healthy food availability and affordability in underserved communities, including investment in supermarkets and healthy food options in convenience stores and corner shops.

Indeed, nationwide studies have shown that growing up in low-income, low-food-access neighbourhoods increases the risk of childhood obesity, underlining the importance of early interventions. By providing evidence-based, finely grained insights on where nutritional deficits persist in London, this latest research can help policymakers and public health organisations tailor strategies to improve diet quality and reduce health inequalities across the city.

📌 Reference Map:

^[1] Daily Mail - Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
^[2] Mirage News - Paragraphs 2, 3
^[3] EurekAlert - Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4
^[4] National Tribune - Paragraph 3
^[5] FOX41 Yakima - Paragraph 2
^[6] Cambridge Core - Paragraph 7
^[7] JAMA Pediatrics - Paragraph 8

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-15261241/London-UNHEALTHIEST-boroughs-Tesco-Clubcard-data.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.miragenews.com/london-food-deserts-exposed-by-grocery-data-1565684/ - A recent study analysed Tesco Clubcard data from 1.6 million London residents to identify 'food deserts'—areas with limited access to affordable, nutritious food. The research found significant clusters in East London, particularly in Newham, Redbridge, and Barking and Dagenham, as well as parts of West London, including Ealing and Brent. These areas exhibited higher purchases of high-sugar, high-carbohydrate, and processed foods, correlating with rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The study underscores the need for targeted interventions to improve food access in these regions.
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1103772 - Researchers from the University of Nottingham and Adelaide analysed Tesco food purchasing records from 1.6 million people across London to understand how food purchase patterns vary and what they reveal about health. Their results, published in PLOS Complex Systems, show clear differences in the nutritional quality of food purchased in different areas of London and reveal where there are 'food deserts'—areas where residents may face barriers to a healthy and affordable diet. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to address these disparities.
https://www.nationaltribune.com.au/food-deserts-found-even-in-areas-with-supermarkets-nearby-new-study/ - A new study published in PLOS Complex Systems analysed Tesco supermarket transactions across London and discovered that 'food deserts' exist even in areas with nearby supermarkets. The research found that inner northwest London had the most nutritious purchasing behaviour, with high fruit, vegetable, and fish purchases, while the east and outer west of London followed a less nutritious pattern, high in sweets and soft drinks. The study suggests that factors influencing eating habits are complex and have implications for nutrition in cities worldwide.
https://www.fox41yakima.com/food-deserts-mapped-across-london-using-grocery-shopping-data/ - Records levels of 'food deserts' have been identified in London by analysing grocery shopping habits of more than 1.5 million people. Tesco loyalty-card data revealed unequal sales levels of nutritious food across the city. The new study identified 'large clusters' of food deserts—areas with limited access to affordable, healthy food, such as fresh fruit and vegetables. They were mostly located in east London—particularly in the boroughs of Newham, Redbridge, plus Barking and Dagenham—and in parts of west London, including Ealing and Brent.
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/public-health-nutrition/article/healthy-and-unhealthy-food-environments-are-linked-with-neighbourhood-socioeconomic-disadvantage-an-innovative-geospatial-approach-to-understanding-food-access-inequities/30DC7C4ACFDE7E046BC9098B56504F4F - This study examines the relationship between neighbourhood socio-economic disadvantage and the quality of available foods, focusing on food deserts and food swamps. It highlights that residents of inner-city neighbourhoods of low socioeconomic status have the poorest access to supermarkets, leading to increased consumption of unhealthy foods. The findings suggest that policies aimed at improving public health must recognise the spatial and socioeconomic inequities with respect to access to healthy and affordable food.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2823466 - This large nationwide cohort study suggests that residence in low-income, low-food-access neighbourhoods during early life is associated with higher BMI z scores and higher risk of obesity and severe obesity from childhood to adolescence. The study supports investments or strategies to improve healthful food access in early life, such as incentivising new supermarkets in existing low-income, low–food access neighbourhoods, providing healthy-choice pantries, and improving access to healthier food choices in small retail corner and convenience stores.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 7

Notes: The narrative appears to be original, with no evidence of prior publication. The study was published in PLOS Complex Systems, a reputable journal. The Daily Mail article is the earliest known publication of this specific content. However, the study's findings have been reported by other outlets, indicating some level of content recycling. The Daily Mail article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([collections.plos.org](https://collections.plos.org/call-for-papers/cities/?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score: 8

Notes: The direct quotes from lead researcher Tayla Broadbridge are unique to this report, with no identical matches found in earlier material. This suggests the quotes are original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score: 6

Notes: The narrative originates from the Daily Mail, a widely read UK newspaper. While it is a reputable organisation, it is not as authoritative as outlets like the BBC or Reuters. The study was published in PLOS Complex Systems, a peer-reviewed journal, which adds credibility to the report.

Plausability check

Score: 7

Notes: The claims about food deserts and oases in London, based on Tesco Clubcard data, are plausible and align with existing research on urban food access. The study's findings have been reported by other reputable outlets, supporting the plausibility of the claims. However, the Daily Mail's tone is unusually dramatic, which may warrant further scrutiny.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative presents original content based on a recent study published in PLOS Complex Systems. While the Daily Mail is a reputable source, its tone is unusually dramatic, which may warrant further scrutiny. The study's findings have been reported by other reputable outlets, supporting the plausibility of the claims. Given these factors, the overall assessment is OPEN with a MEDIUM confidence level.

Food access
Dietary inequalities
Public health