Food SelectionNCT06468501
SEP and the Impact of Price on Food Selection in a Simulated Food Delivery App
A study testing Price reduction on healthier foods, Price increase to less healthy foods and Combination of price reduction on healthier foods and price increase on less healthy foods in people with Food Selection and Healthy Eating, run by University of Liverpool at 1 site in United Kingdom.
Trial summary
The goal of this randomised controlled trial is to compare taxation with subsidies to encourage healthier food choices in the out-of-home food sector. Participants will be asked to make hypothetical food choices in an online simulation study of a delivery app. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Food Selection, Healthy Eating, Eating Behavior
- What is being tested?
- Price reduction on healthier foods, Price increase to less healthy foods and Combination of price reduction on healthier foods and price increase on less healthy foods
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 3,464 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited Kingdom
- Study dates
- 1 Jul 2024to 31 Aug 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Currently reside in the United Kingdom
- Over the age of 18 years
- Order take-away food for delivery at least once a month
- Can complete the study on a laptop or desktop
Who cannot join
- Any major dietary restrictions (vegan, dairy/lactose-free, gluten-free) or allergies (dairy, eggs, nuts, soy, wheat) that would limit the number of dishes they could choose in the meal selection task
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United Kingdom1 site
University of Liverpool
Liverpool, Merseyside, L69 7ZA
About this study
Official title: Socioeconomic Position and the Effectiveness of Price Changes Based on Healthier and Less Healthy Food on Food Selection in a Simulated Out of Home Food Delivery App: a Randomised Controlled Trial
The goal of this randomised controlled trial is to compare taxation with subsidies to encourage healthier food choices in the out-of-home food sector. Participants will be asked to make hypothetical food choices in an online simulation study of a delivery app. Participants will be randomised into four different intervention groups:
- Price reduction (10%) on healthier foods
- Price increase (10%) to less healthy foods
- A combination of price reduction to healthier foods and price increase to less healthy foods
- Existing price structure (i.e. control group)
The investigators will further examine effectiveness of these fiscal policies on healthy eating by socioeconomic position to understand whether these policies are equitable.
- Conditions
- Food Selection, Healthy Eating, Eating Behavior
- Being tested
- Price reduction on healthier foods, Price increase to less healthy foods, Combination of price reduction on healthier foods and price increase on less healthy foods, Control
- Medical subject headings
- Food Preferences, Feeding Behavior
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Price reduction on healthier foodsBehavioural
Price reduction (10%) on healthier foods based on the UK NPM
Price increase to less healthy foodsBehavioural
Price increase (10%) on less healthy foods based on the UK NPM
Combination of price reduction on healthier foods and price increase on less healthy foodsBehavioural
Combination of price reduction (10%) on healthier foods based on the UK NPM and price increase (10%) on less healthy foods based on the UK NPM
ControlBehavioural
Existing price structure
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Price reduction on healthier foods | Experimental | * Price reduction of 10% for healthier dishes (based on a score of less than 4 on the UK Nutrient Profile Model (NPM))
* Existing price structure for less healthy dishes (based on a score of 4 or higher on the UK NPM) Receives: Behavioral: Price reduction on healthier foods |
| Price increase to less healthy foods | Experimental | * Price increase of 10% for less healthy dishes (based on a score of less than 4 on the UK NPM)
* Existing price structure for healthier dishes (based on a score of 4 or higher on the UK NPM) Receives: Behavioral: Price increase to less healthy foods |
| Combination of price reduction to healthier foods and price increase to less healthy foods | Experimental | * Price reduction of 10% for healthier dishes (based on a score of less than 4 on the UK NPM)
* Price increase of 10% for less healthy dishes (based on a score of 4 or higher on the UK NPM) Receives: Behavioral: Combination of price reduction on healthier foods and price increase on less healthy foods |
| Existing price structure (control) | Placebo comparator | - No changes in prices Receives: Behavioral: Control |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Healthier vs less healthy main meals ordered based on the Nutrient Profiling Model and total energy (kcal)
Healthier vs less healthy main meals ordered
Measured: immediately after food choice
Total energy (kcal) ordered
The total energy content of the total hypothetical food order
Measured: immediately after food choice
Secondary outcomes (2)
Proportion of selecting healthier vs less healthy meal items of the total food order based on the Nutrient Profiling Model and total energy (kcal)
Proportion of selecting healthier vs less healthy meal items of the total hypothetical food order
Measured: immediately after food choice
Total fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar ordered
Total fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar of total hypothetical food order
Measured: immediately after food choice
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Jun 2024
- Study start1 Jul 2024
- Primary completion31 Aug 2024
- Study completion31 Aug 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Food SelectionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- The design is a randomised controlled trial, with 4 (interventions) x 2 (high vs low SEP) between-subject conditions.
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 3,464 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Liverpool
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Eric Robinson, University of Liverpool
- Investigators
- Eric Robinson, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Liverpool
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06468501
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Food Delivery Study
- Status last verified
- Jun 2024
- First submitted
- 11 Jun 2024
- Last updated
- 28 Jan 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Study data (anonymised) will be shared on the Open Science Framework (OSF)
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Jan 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Socioeconomic Position and the Effectiveness of Price Changes Based on Healthier and Less Healthy Food on Food Selection in a Simulated Out of Home Food Delivery App: a Randomised Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06468501
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Food Delivery Study
- Conditions
- Food Selection, Healthy Eating, Eating Behavior
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 3,464 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of LiverpoolUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jul 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Aug 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Aug 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 21 Jun 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this randomised controlled trial is to compare taxation with subsidies to encourage healthier food choices in the out-of-home food sector. Participants will be asked to make hypothetical food choices in an online simulation study of a delivery app. Participants will be randomised into four different intervention groups:
- Price reduction (10%) on healthier foods
- Price increase (10%) to less healthy foods
- A combination of price reduction to healthier foods and price increase to less healthy foods
- Existing price structure (i.e. control group)
The investigators will further examine effectiveness of these fiscal policies on healthy eating by socioeconomic position to understand whether these policies are equitable.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 4
- Model description
- The design is a randomised controlled trial, with 4 (interventions) x 2 (high vs low SEP) between-subject conditions.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Price reduction on healthier foods | Experimental | Behavioral: Price reduction on healthier foods* Price reduction of 10% for healthier dishes (based on a score of less than 4 on the UK Nutrient Profile Model (NPM)) * Existing price structure for less healthy dishes (based on a score of 4 or higher on the UK NPM) |
| Price increase to less healthy foods | Experimental | Behavioral: Price increase to less healthy foods* Price increase of 10% for less healthy dishes (based on a score of less than 4 on the UK NPM) * Existing price structure for healthier dishes (based on a score of 4 or higher on the UK NPM) |
| Combination of price reduction to healthier foods and price increase to less healthy foods | Experimental | Behavioral: Combination of price reduction on healthier foods and price increase on less healthy foods* Price reduction of 10% for healthier dishes (based on a score of less than 4 on the UK NPM) * Price increase of 10% for less healthy dishes (based on a score of 4 or higher on the UK NPM) |
| Existing price structure (control) | Placebo comparator | Behavioral: Control- No changes in prices |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Currently reside in the United Kingdom
- Over the age of 18 years
- Order take-away food for delivery at least once a month
- Can complete the study on a laptop or desktop
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Any major dietary restrictions (vegan, dairy/lactose-free, gluten-free) or allergies (dairy, eggs, nuts, soy, wheat) that would limit the number of dishes they could choose in the meal selection task
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Price reduction on healthier foodsPrice reduction (10%) on healthier foods based on the UK NPM | Behavioural | Price reduction on healthier foods |
| Price increase to less healthy foodsPrice increase (10%) on less healthy foods based on the UK NPM | Behavioural | Price increase to less healthy foods |
| Combination of price reduction on healthier foods and price increase on less healthy foodsCombination of price reduction (10%) on healthier foods based on the UK NPM and price increase (10%) on less healthy foods based on the UK NPM | Behavioural | Combination of price reduction to healthier foods and price increase to less healthy foods |
| ControlExisting price structure | Behavioural | Existing price structure (control) |
Primary outcome
Healthier vs less healthy main meals ordered based on the Nutrient Profiling Model and total energy (kcal)
Time frame: immediately after food choice
Healthier vs less healthy main meals ordered
Total energy (kcal) ordered
Time frame: immediately after food choice
The total energy content of the total hypothetical food order
2 secondary outcomes
Proportion of selecting healthier vs less healthy meal items of the total food order based on the Nutrient Profiling Model and total energy (kcal)
Time frame: immediately after food choice
Total fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar ordered
Time frame: immediately after food choice
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Jan 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Study data (anonymised) will be shared on the Open Science Framework (OSF)
Related trials for Food Selection
Not yet recruiting
Exploring the Influence of Glucagon-like Peptide -1 (GLP-1) Medications on Food Cravings, Food Selection, and Food Intake Following Exposure to Food Advertisements
GLP - 1
Recruiting
Influence of Social Media Ads on Food Choice - Master Protocol
Food Selection, Food Choices
Not yet recruiting
Optimization Trial to Empower sElection of Nutritious Foods
Food Insecurity, Healthy Eating
Not yet recruiting
Food Menu Labelling Effects on Individuals With Eating Disorders and Other Mental Health Conditions.
Food Labelling, Eating Behaviour
RecruitingObservational study
Fostering Self-Empowerment in CKD Patients Through Food Choice Mapping
CKD, Chronic Kidney Disease (Stages 3b-5)
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Eric Robinson, PhD principal investigator
University of Liverpool
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Price reduction on healthier foods, Price increase to less healthy foods and Combination of price reduction on healthier foods and price increase on less healthy foods in people with Food Selection and Healthy Eating, run by University of Liverpool at 1 site in United Kingdom.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Jan 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United Kingdom. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Healthier vs less healthy main meals ordered based on the Nutrient Profiling Model and total energy (kcal) (time frame: immediately after food choice). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Jan 2025.