‘Food deserts’ mapped across London using grocery shopping data

By Stephen Beech

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 - area with limited access to affordable, healthy food, such as fresh fruit and veg.

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.

Poor diet and unequal access to healthy food are linked to rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

To effectively target interventions to areas where residents face barriers to accessing healthy food, scientists say i