Can AI Make Our Food Safer Than Ever?
How new technology is protecting what’s on our plates.
Every year, millions of people around the world get sick from eating contaminated food. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 600 million people fall ill annually, and about 4.2 million die from foodborne diseases. That’s a huge number — and the scary part is, much of it comes from something we can’t even see: toxic fungi known as mycotoxins.
But now, scientists may have found a way to stop this problem before it even reaches our plates. Thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) and a powerful imaging technology, our food supply could soon become safer than ever.
What Are Mycotoxins and Why Are They Dangerous?
Mycotoxins are poisonous compounds produced by fungi that grow on crops like wheat, corn, peanuts, almonds, and other grains and nuts. These toxins can appear during growth, harvesting, or storage — and once they’re there, they can be very harmful.
Health experts link mycotoxins to food poisoning, long-term illness, and even cancer. According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), up to 25% of the world’s crops are affected by mycotoxin contamination. That means 1 in 4 of the foods we rely on could be unsafe.
Clearly, we need a better way to catch these contaminants. And that’s where AI steps in.
How AI Can Spot What We Can’t
Researchers at the University of South Australia, working with partners in Canada, have developed a system that combines hyperspectral imaging (HSI) with machine learning to detect toxins in food.
Here’s how it works:
- Hyperspectral imaging captures detailed images of food using different wavelengths of light.
- Machine learning algorithms then analyze those images to find subtle patterns that signal the presence of mycotoxins.
In simple terms: the technology gives AI “super-vision,” allowing it to see signs of contamination that the human eye or traditional tests might miss.
Why This Is a Game-Changer
This new approach has some big advantages over current testing methods:
1. Fast and non-invasive – It can scan food instantly without destroying samples.
2. Highly accurate – Studies show it can identify contamination with 90–95% accuracy.
3. calable – It can be used in factories, shipping facilities, or even handheld devices in the future.
4. Life-saving potential – By catching toxins early, millions of foodborne illness cases could be prevented.
Professor Sang-Heon Lee, one of the project leads, explained that this is especially effective at spotting aflatoxin B1, one of the most dangerous cancer-causing substances found in food.
What’s Next for AI in Food Safety?
The researchers believe this technology could soon be integrated into industrial food processing lines — scanning almonds, wheat, corn, and more in real time. Imagine every batch of food being checked instantly before it reaches grocery stores or kitchens.
They’re also exploring the possibility of creating portable, handheld devices that farmers, inspectors, or even consumers could use to test food quickly and safely.
If successful, this could reduce not only health risks but also economic losses from contaminated shipments, helping both people and businesses.
Final Thoughts
Food safety is something we often take for granted, but the risks are real and widespread. With AI and hyperspectral imaging, we now have a tool that can protect our food supply at a scale never seen before.
The future could mean fewer recalls, fewer illnesses, and millions of lives saved each year — all thanks to technology that sees what we can’t.
So, the big question is: could AI really make our food safer than ever? The science says yes — and that future may be closer than we think.