The role of artificial intelligence (AI) in foodborne disease prevention and management—a mini literature review

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that unsafe food is responsible for 600 million cases and over 400,000 deaths annually. Traditional outbreak investigations are often time-consuming, inefficient, and limited by the quality and timeliness of available data. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI), such as machine learning, offers innovative approaches to improve the accuracy, speed, and efficiency of foodborne disease surveillance and outbreak detection. We conducted a mini review of the published literature and explored the potential applications of AI in foodborne disease prevention and control. Key areas explored included predictive analytics, food supply chain monitoring, public health surveillance, and laboratory-based investigations. AI-based predictive models support improved monitoring of environmental risk factors, better management of food supply chains, and more timely detection and prevention of contamination and outbreaks. We also described several challenges related to the integration of AI in food safety systems, including data quality, regulatory frameworks, and ethical considerations. By integrating advanced AI-driven methods, the future of food safety promises greater efficacy and equity in public health.