The School of Population Health at RCSI has launched a groundbreaking initiative that seeks to enhance public health by using artificial intelligence (AI) to empower people across Europe to make healthier and more sustainable food choices. Each year roughly 800,000 people in the European Union die and 14 million years of healthy life are lost a result of unhealthy diets. The WiseFood project, funded by the EU Horizon Europe programme, integrates advanced AI-driven tools and real-world feedback to promote better dietary habits while reducing environmental impact.
Led by Dr Claire Timon and Dr Angela Flynn, this three-year project aims to democratise access to reliable, science-backed information on healthy and eco-conscious eating. By leveraging cutting-edge AI techniques, such as large language models and retrieval-augmented generation, WiseFood provides tailored advice to help individuals make informed decisions that benefit both personal health and the planet.
The project builds on previous work by RCSI and UCD, which evaluated the accuracy of the ChatGPT-4 large language model in estimating the nutritional content of meals from photos. In the study, researchers used 38 meal photos with known nutritional values and asked ChatGPT-4 to estimate various nutrients like calories, protein, and vitamins. The research, published in Nutrients, found that ChatGPT-4 showed promise at ranking meals according to their nutritional content.
Key Innovations and Applications
Building on this, the new project will develop three AI-powered user-centric applications:
- FoodScholar: A platform that curates and presents trustworthy, easy-to-access information on nutrition, sustainability, and health from academic and official sources. The AI algorithms ensure that the information is up-to-date and relevant to users’ needs.
- RecipeWrangler: An AI-driven tool that evaluates and improves recipes, balancing nutritional value with environmental impact.
- FoodChat: A recommendation system that offers personalised meal suggestions, encouraging long-term shifts towards healthier and eco-friendlier diets. The AI tailors these recommendations based on dietary guidelines.
These solutions will be tested in real-world settings through Living Labs in Ireland, Hungary, and Slovenia, involving over 300 households. Through co-design workshops and direct input from citizens, nutritionists, and policymakers, the applications will be refined to meet real-life needs and preferences.
Dr Claire Timon, Principal Investigator, said: “Through WiseFood, we are leveraging data and AI to empower individuals to make informed, sustainable decisions about the food they eat. By embedding public involvement and real-world testing into our design process, we ensure the solutions we develop are both practical and effective.”
The initiative combines cutting-edge AI techniques with participatory research to create meaningful change. From reducing food waste to tailoring meal plans based on local dietary guidelines, WiseFood offers a holistic approach. Findings from the Living Labs will be compiled into a Mirroring Guideline document to facilitate implementation in other European regions, ensuring WiseFood’s impact goes beyond its initial test sites.
With €2.85 million in EU funding, WiseFood demonstrates how collaborative, multidisciplinary efforts can address complex challenges in public health and sustainability. This research is supported by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, in collaboration with partners from Greece, Belgium, Ireland, Hungary, Slovenia, Serbia, and the Netherlands.
