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Artificial intelligence is emerging as a transformative force in addressing the multifaceted challenges of food safety, food quality, and food security. This review synthesizes advancements in AI-driven technologies, such as machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision, and their applications across the food supply chain, based on a comprehensive analysis of literature published from 1990 to 2024. AI enhances food safety through real-time contamination detection, predictive risk modeling, and compliance monitoring, reducing public health risks. It improves food quality by automating defect detection, optimizing shelf-life predictions, and ensuring consistency in taste, texture, and appearance. Furthermore, AI addresses food security by enabling resource-efficient agriculture, yield forecasting, and supply chain optimization to ensure the availability and accessibility of nutritious food resources. This review also highlights the integration of AI with advanced food processing techniques such as high-pressure processing, ultraviolet treatment, pulsed electric fields, cold plasma, and irradiation, which ensure microbial safety, extend shelf life, and enhance product quality. Additionally, the integration of AI with emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things, blockchain, and AI-powered sensors enables proactive risk management, predictive analytics, and automated quality control. By examining these innovations' potential to enhance transparency, efficiency, and decision-making within food systems, this review identifies current research gaps and proposes strategies to address barriers such as data limitations, model generalizability, and ethical concerns. These insights underscore the critical role of AI in advancing safer, higher-quality, and more secure food systems, guiding future research and fostering sustainable food systems that benefit public health and consumer trust.
Article highlights
AI improves food safety by detecting contamination risks and enhancing traceability across supply chains.
AI helps optimize food processing methods, reducing waste and improving efficiency in modern food systems.
Future AI innovations focus on scalable and cost-effective solutions to enhance global food security and sustainability.
Details
Internet of Things;
Food quality;
Predictive control;
Food supply;
Cold plasmas;
Computer vision;
Machine learning;
Food processing;
Food resources;
Food security;
Microorganisms;
Quality control;
Optimization;
Artificial intelligence;
Risk management;
Food safety;
Public health;
Food contamination;
Safety;
Real time;
Shelf life;
Decision making;
Contamination;
Irradiation;
Health risks;
Automation;
Deep learning;
Innovations;
Food availability;
Food chains;
Sustainable food systems;
Electric fields;
Natural language processing;
Cybersecurity;
Supply chains