AI Monitors Kitchens in Zhejiang, 195,000 Restaurants Online
Artificial intelligence automatically identifies violations in the kitchens of Zhejiang-based delivery restaurants. 195,000 businesses are now connected to the system that monitors food safety.
Zhejiang province in China has implemented an artificial intelligence (AI) system to monitor the kitchens of delivery restaurants, enhancing food safety. Since March 2022, all delivery restaurants across the province have been required to install surveillance cameras in their kitchens and upload real-time footage to a regulatory platform.
The system now encompasses 195,000 delivery businesses, with 97.3% equipped with AI-enabled cameras. The AI can automatically detect various kitchen violations, such as cooking oil directly contacting the floor, using sinks for washing mop heads, smoking within the kitchen, or animals entering food preparation areas. Detected violations are flagged to regulatory personnel who then prompt restaurants to rectify the issues.
The "Min Chu Liang Zao" (clear kitchen) initiative has demonstrated significant success. Prior to the system's implementation, over 28% of kitchens failed to meet hygiene standards. This rate has since decreased to just 3.9%. Consumers can also access real-time kitchen footage by clicking a "Min Chu Liang Zao" link on the restaurant's ordering page.
Official data indicates that nearly 90% of consumers order food delivery at least twice a month. Zhejiang authorities aim to further improve food safety for online food businesses and prevent the operation of unsanitary or non-compliant establishments through this regulatory push.