A school in Maharashtra, India, is changing how it assesses the quality of the food supplied to its kids using Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Todsa Ashram School in the Maharashtra city of Gadchiroli is employing AI to offer a quick and accurate way to assess the quality of meals. Project Bhamragad, which seeks to boost the nutrition of tribal children in the area, includes the project by incorportating AI-based food quality testing.
The Role of AI in food quality testing
The AI-based technology deployed in the school operates by recognizing images. The visual qualities of food, such as colour, texture, and form, may be identified by AI algorithms taught to do so. As it gives measures of several sorts, including calories, carbohydrates, protein, fat, etc., to evaluate the quality of the meal, this technology may be employed in real-time. Within a few seconds of taking a photo of the meal plate, the system determines if the food’s quality is acceptable. The device doesn’t need any assistance from a human. Anyone of any age may operate it without any problems.
The need for AI-based food quality testing
AI-based food quality testing became necessary when 61 out of 222 schoolgirls were underweight. Three meals were served each day, and the quality and amount of the food were satisfactory. The menu was also followed. Therefore, it was crucial to identify the root of the malnutrition. At that point, the management decided to deploy AI-based tools to assess the quality of the food provided to the pupils.
Positive Results of AI-based food quality testing
The quality testing outcomes have been excellent, according to Shubham Gupta, Assistant Collector of Etapalli and Project Director of the Integrated Tribal Development Project. Since the equipment was installed in September 2022, youngsters’ food quality and body mass index (BMI) have improved. The Headmaster and Gupta have access to the machine’s data collection.
Expansion of its applications
As part of initiative Bhamragad, the food quality testing initiative has been deployed in one of the eight Ashram schools. However, the project’s successful outcomes have prompted the administration to consider extending it to more schools in the area. According to Gupta, the project is producing fruitful results for the administration. The quality of the meals has increased.
