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Eating out habits of Australians

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FOI 24/25- 0013 DOCUMENT 27

Eating out habits of Australians

The content of this document is OFFICIAL. Please note: The research and literature reviews collated by our TAB Research Team are not to be shared external to the Branch. These are for internal TAB use only and are intended to assist our advisors with their reasonable and necessary decision-making. Delegates have access to a wide variety of comprehensive guidance material. If Delegates require further information on access or planning matters, they are to call the TAPS line for advice. The Research Team are unable to ensure that the information listed below provides an accurate & up-to-date snapshot of these matters

Research question: How many meals on average Australians eat out or get take away per week or month? Date: 23/8/2022 Requestor: Kim redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irr Endorsed by: Andrea redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - ir Researcher: Stephanie redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant mate Cleared by: Stephanie redacted: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant mat Review date: n/a

1. Contents

Eating out habits of Australians …………………………………………………………………………………….. 1

  1. Contents ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1

  2. Habits of Australians consuming food prepared outside the home …………………………. 2

  3. References ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5

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2. Eating habits of Australians for food prepared outside

the home

There is limited quality, peer reviewed literature addressing the question of how often Australians eat food prepared outside the home and the method of procurement. One peer reviewed paper was sourced, Cameron et al (2022), which reports data from the Australian arm of the 2018 International Food Policy Study. This study is conducted annually in five countries: Australia, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States. In 2018 there were 3963 Australian participants; data is collected through self-report methods.

Table 1 shows the source and frequency over one week of meals prepared outside the home. Highlights from this table: • An average of 2.73 (95% CI 2.61 – 2.86) meals per week were prepared outside the home, this included fast food/take away an average of 1.35 times, sit down restaurant or pub meal 0.73 times, sandwich or prepared food from supermarket 0.2 times. • On average, males tend to source more food prepared outside the home at 3.08 times per week (fast food 1.49 times per week; restaurant meals 0.78 times) than females at 2.40 times per week (fast food 1.21 times; restaurant 0.68 times). • By age group, 18-29 year-olds source more prepared food from outside the home, averaging 4.29 times per week (fast food most frequently 2.00 times per week, followed by restaurants or pubs 0.95 times per week), with 30-44 year-olds second highest (fast food 1.71 times per week, restaurants or pubs 0.76 times per week)

Table 2 reports how meals prepared outside the home were procured. Highlights from this table: • Food sourced from an outlet more than 5 minutes from home was procured most often (1.13 times per week), followed by a food outlet less than 5 minutes from home (0.77 times), food delivery service (0.35 times) and restaurant delivery (0.33 times)

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Table 1 Source and frequency (over one week) of meals prepared outside the home, Australian data

Fast food/take away Sit-down restaurant or pub Work, School, University Sandwich from sup’market Food truck, market Petrol station, milk bar Leisure centre, entertainment venue Vending machine Other Total average of all sources
Total average 1.35
(1.29-1.41)		 0.73
(0.67-0.78)		 0.15
(0.12-0.18)		 0.20
(0.17-0.24)		 0.10
(0.08-0.13)		 0.10
(0.08-0.13)		 0.07
(0.05-0.08)		 0.05
(0.04-0.07)		 0.11
(0.08-0.13)		 2.73
(2.61-2.86)
Sex M 1.49 0.78 0.20 0.26 0.14 0.14 0.08 0.08 0.11 3.08
Sex F 1.21 0.68 0.10 0.15 0.07 0.07 0.05 0.03 0.11 2.40
Age 18-29 2.00 0.95 0.34 0.43 0.26 0.22 0.16 0.16 0.13 4.29
Age 30-44 1.71 0.76 0.20 0.30 0.13 0.16 0.10 0.07 0.07 3.28
Age 45-59 1.22 0.55 0.06 0.09 0.01 0.04 0.01 0.01 0.14 2.20
Age ≥60 0.61 0.67 0.02 0.04 0.02 0.02 0.03 0 0.10 1.47

Cameron et al (2022)

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Table 2 Procurement of meals prepared outside the home, Australian data

Food delivery service Restaurant delivery service Food outlet < 5 mins from home Food outlet > 5 mins from home
Total 0.35
(0.31-0.40)		 0.33
(0.29-0.38)		 0.77
(0.71-0.82)		 1.13
(1.06-1.19)
Sex M 0.46 0.42 0.84 1.19
Sex F 0.25 0.25 0.69 1.07
Age 18-29 0.79 0.65 1.22 1.36
Age 30-44 0.53 0.48 0.87 1.26
Age 45-59 0.12 0.16 0.68 1.08
Age ≥ 60 0.04 0.09 0.39 0.86

Cameron et al (2022)

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3. References

Cameron, A. J., Oostenbach, L. H., Dean, S., Robinson, E., White, C. M., Vanderlee, L., Hammond, D., & Sacks, G. (2022). Consumption frequency and purchase locations of foods prepared outside the home in Australia: 2018 International food policy study. Journal of Nutrition, 152, 76S-84S. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxab437

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