Artificial intelligence in personalized nutrition and food manufacturing: a comprehensive review of methods, applications, and future directions

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a key driver at the intersection of nutrition and food systems, offering scalable solutions for precision health, smart manufacturing, and sustainable development. This study aims to present a comprehensive review of AI-driven innovations that enable precision nutrition through real-time dietary recommendations, meal planning informed by individual biological markers (e.g., blood glucose or cholesterol levels), and adaptive feedback systems. It further examines the integration of AI technologies in food production, such as machine learning-based quality control, predictive maintenance, and waste minimization, to support circular economy goals and enhance food system resilience. Drawing on advances in deep learning, federated learning, and computer vision, the review outlines how AI transforms static, population-level dietary models into dynamic, data-informed frameworks tailored to individual needs. The paper also addresses critical challenges related to algorithmic transparency, data privacy, and equitable access, and proposes actionable pathways for ethical and scalable implementation. By bridging healthcare, nutrition, and industrial domains, this study offers a forward-looking roadmap for leveraging AI to build intelligent, inclusive, and sustainable food-health ecosystems.

Keywords: artificial intelligence; federated learning; food manufacturing; machine learning; personalized nutrition; predictive analytics.

Figure 1

A conceptual framework illustrating interdisciplinary collaboration in AI-driven personalized nutrition. The model integrates contributions from data science, healthcare, nutrition, industry, and policy to produce ethically grounded, clinically valid, and context-sensitive dietary solutions.

Figure 2

Conceptual mapping of emerging innovation trajectories across key application domains. The figure illustrates how advanced technologies such as federated learning, IoT, and AI-driven systems intersect with healthcare, food production, packaging, and hospitality, enabling targeted outcomes in privacy, sustainability, and efficiency.