Data & Process Model

Covid 19 restrictions (working from home) – all states throughout the US have restrictions in place to prevent covidStates throughout the US have varying degrees of covid restrictions in place. This has changed the habits of consumers during this time. More grocery shoppers are cooking at home and shopping less frequently with comsumers “stockpiling” during shopping events.

FDA Food Safety Modernization Act – “about 48 million people in the U.S. (1 in 6) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die each year from foodborne diseases”

The FDA has created “The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)” which focuses on preventing foodbourne illness. By implementing new rules and regulations for farmers, for example, the FSMA has a direct impact on the food supply chain which can also affect consumers.

Food price fluctuations – in 2020 food prices will increase between 1.5% and 2.5%Various world-wide events affect food prices. Throughout the past decade, events such as hurricanes, climate change, the World Trade Organization rules and oil prices have affected food prices.

Unemployment – currently at 8.4% (as of 9/4)

Rising food prices and unemployment contributes to shoppers being more budget conscious and strategic in their shopping habits. It’s only logical that shoppers will want to get the most out of their purchases.

Lifestyle, health consciousness and income contribute to meal planning and diet.“Health is on the minds of more consumers now than ever before. Whether it’s wanting healthier versions of classic dishes and snack foods or searching for grocery items that cater to particular dietary needs, the quest for a healthier lifestyle is pervading the food industry in full force.”

As the food and beverage industry adapt to a more health conscious consumer, there will be an opportunity for more recipes, more variety and options that directly impacts WTF users.

Deep Learning and AI development in the food recognition space. Advancements in deep learning and AI will directly impact the success of WTF. As food recognition software develops further, the accuracy with the variety of foods and packaging provides greater options for applications such as WTF.

Food Waste – nearly 40% of the US food supply is wasted each year. According to the Guardian, “Research shows people with healthy diets rich in fruit and vegetables are the most wasteful and calls for better education for consumers” This waste has a direct impact on the environment. Also according to the Guardian article, the amount of wasted food is equivalent to “the yearly use of 30m acres of land, 780m pounds of pesticide and 4.2tn gallons of irrigated water”.

Federal and State data and information privacy protection. Laws put in place throughout the US and other countries can directly impact applications such as WTF in its ability to collect data on its consumers.