Abstract

Background Dark kitchens, also known as cloud or virtual kitchens, are a rapidly evolving component of the food environment, yet an accepted definition of this phenomenon did not exist before our work. The lack of clarity is challenging for public health, environmental health, and planning teams, as without a consistently applied definition, it is difficult to identify, monitor, and regulate these premises, and to assess their effect on public health. In 2024, Food Active recommended that local government increase awareness of, and ensure policies consider, dark kitchens. We report on the development of a multi-stakeholder consensus definition.

Methods A consensus definition was developed through stakeholder consultation across multiple NIHR-funded research projects which were conducted between February and August 2024. Methods included online surveys, questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups with members of the public, local authority teams (planning, environmental health, public health), industry representatives, dark kitchen owners, and academics. Participants were asked to share their experiences and propose key terms and definitions. Project representatives then met in a workshop and refined a final consensus definition. The refined definition was shared with external stakeholders for final comment. Ethical approval was obtained from all participating institutions, and all participants provided informed consent.

Results The definition of ‘a tech-enabled commercial kitchen(s) operating primarily for delivery, to fulfil remote, on-demand, consumer online orders of food for immediate consumption’ was agreed. The definition should be utilised across policy, practice, and academic contexts. It enables consistent identification of dark kitchens, supports improved surveillance and regulation, and enhances communication between stakeholders including providing clarity for consumers. We believe that this will have cross-sectoral benefits, including improved food safety, public trust, and sustainability.

Conclusion A universally adopted definition of dark kitchens is essential for effective regulation and public health protection. This work provides a foundation for future policy development and cross-sectoral collaboration.