What are 'dark kitchens'? A consensus definition from public, local authority, business and academic stakeholders in the United Kingdom.

IF 2.6 4区医学 Q1 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Perspectives in Public Health Pub Date : 2025-09-23 DOI:10.1177/17579139251371997

L Nield, T Burgoine, A A Lake, H J Moore, J Soon-Sinclair, J Adams, Trp Bishop, S Bowles, E Boyland, C Bradford, M Chang, S Cummins, J Duffy, I Ferris, D Harness, Y Huang, Z Laheri, S Lloyd, H Martin, C O'Malley, J Pearce, C Rinaldi, R Rundle, N Shaw, E Tindall, T Townshend, C Wall, J D Beaumont

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: 'Dark kitchens' are an innovative and potentially disruptive addition to the global food environment with potential implications for policy, practice and public health. In the UK, dark kitchens currently represent approximately 15% of all food retailers across the three major online food delivery platforms in England (e.g. Just Eat, Deliveroo, Uber Eats), contributing significantly to the digital food environment. To date, dark kitchens have been poorly defined, under-researched and their wider impact poorly understood.

Aim: Therefore, the aim of this work was to coproduce a consensus definition of dark kitchens to be used across multiple disciplines.

Methods: A series of consultations took place with stakeholders including consumers, local authority representatives, academics, dark kitchen employees, and national governing bodies to understand knowledge and currently used definitions of dark kitchens. Mixed-method approaches were used involving questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, and workshops.

Results: The stakeholder consultation process provided a robust methodology through which a consensus definition of dark kitchens was agreed. Each project group provided a definition which was scribed and annotated to understand the key components of importance within the definitions, while additional and unique components were discussed and debated by the expert working group before being accepted or rejected. In addition, short- and long-term benefits of such a definition were outlined for all stakeholder groups. Following peer-review from local authority, industry and governing body stakeholders, a final definition was produced.

Conclusion: The adoption of a consensus definition of dark kitchens is pivotal to the cross-sectoral work and understanding of many stakeholder groups. The definition allows for transparency and improved communication between dark kitchen stakeholders and provides the opportunity to drive public health agendas at multiple points within the food system.

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什么是“黑暗厨房”？来自英国公众、地方当局、商业和学术利益相关者的共识定义。

背景：“黑暗厨房”是对全球食品环境的一种创新和潜在破坏性的补充，对政策、实践和公共卫生具有潜在影响。在英国，黑暗厨房目前约占英国三大在线食品配送平台（如Just Eat、Deliveroo、Uber Eats）所有食品零售商的15%，对数字食品环境做出了重大贡献。迄今为止，人们对黑暗厨房的定义和研究都不充分，对其更广泛的影响也知之甚少。目的：因此，这项工作的目的是共同产生一个共识的黑暗厨房的定义，以跨多个学科使用。方法：与包括消费者、地方当局代表、学者、黑暗厨房员工和国家管理机构在内的利益相关者进行了一系列磋商，以了解知识和目前使用的黑暗厨房定义。采用了问卷调查、访谈、焦点小组和研讨会等混合方法。结果：利益相关者咨询过程提供了一个强有力的方法，通过该方法达成了对黑暗厨房的共识定义。每个项目小组都提供了一个定义，对定义进行了描述和注释，以了解定义中重要的关键组成部分，而专家工作组在接受或拒绝之前讨论和辩论了其他和独特的组成部分。此外，为所有利益相关者群体概述了这种定义的短期和长期利益。经过地方当局、行业和理事机构利益相关者的同行评审，产生了最终定义。结论：对黑暗厨房的共识定义的采用对于跨部门工作和许多利益相关者群体的理解至关重要。该定义提高了“暗厨房”利益相关者之间的透明度和沟通，并提供了在食品系统的多个方面推动公共卫生议程的机会。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Perspectives in Public Health PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH-

CiteScore

4.50

自引率

1.70%

发文量

期刊介绍： Perspectives in Public Health is a bi-monthly peer-reviewed journal. It is practice orientated and features current topics and opinions; news and views on current health issues; case studies; book reviews; letters to the Editor; as well as updates on the Society"s work. The journal also commissions articles for themed issues and publishes original peer-reviewed articles. Perspectives in Public Health"s primary aim is to be an invaluable resource for the Society"s members, who are health-promoting professionals from many disciplines, including environmental health, health protection, health and safety, food safety and nutrition, building and engineering, primary care, academia and government.