Legal responsibility and regulatory compliance with food information on e-grocery platforms: an Italian case study offering insights for future policies and consumer protection in the European context

Abstract

In recent years, e-grocery has grown across the European Union (EU), with regulations imposing the provision of mandatory information for prepacked food products (PFPs) even in online sales. However, recent studies have shown that e-grocery platforms do not always fully comply with these requirements. Thus, this study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of e-grocery services offered by major large-scale retailers (LSRs) in Italy, focusing on: i) territorial coverage at the provincial level; ii) the legal responsibility in the provision of mandatory information; and iii) the degree of compliance of 414 PFPs with EU and national legislations concerning mandatory food information. Results revealed greater diffusion of e-grocery services in Northern and Central-Northern Italy, with relevant disparities in the South and islands, reflecting structural and infrastructural market differences that are consistent with patterns observed across EU. All the analyzed platforms were owned and directly managed by the LSRs, thereby assigning them a central responsibility in ensuring compliance with current regulations. The analysis of the information provided on PFPs revealed a high percentage of compliance (92.8%), but also a non-negligible proportion of non-compliant products (7.2%), aligning with other EU researches. These findings highlight the need for clearer, and more accessible online food information to support compliance to regulations and consumer trust. The study also offers valuable insights and recommendations for stakeholders across the EU regarding regulatory compliance in online food sales, with important implications for consumer protection, enforcement practices, and the development of future policies in the continuously evolving context of digital food commerce.