Foodservice

UAE school use facial recognition to promotes healthy vending

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June 29, 2026

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A school in the United Arab Emirates has been shortlisted for the Supporting Healthy Lives award in the World's Best School Prizes after students developed an artificial intelligence-powered vending machine that promotes healthier eating, according to a report in The National. The Intelligent Health Food Dispensing Solution was created by students at Applied Technology Schools–Sharjah in collaboration with teachers, nurses, canteen staff, IT personnel and parents. Using facial recognition technology linked to students' medical records, the machine blocks food selections that conflict with allergies, dietary restrictions or other health concerns, including obesity.

School officials said the project was inspired by the limited success of traditional healthy eating campaigns and was designed to provide a practical solution. Principal Dr. Wael Seitan said the initiative also gave students hands-on experience in product design, data analysis, prototyping and marketing. The prototype has already been tested at another Applied Technology Schools campus in Dubai, and school leaders hope recognition through the international competition will support wider deployment in schools and potentially hospitals.

According to T4 Education, founder of the World's Best School Prizes, the system has produced promising early results. No food-allergy incidents were reported among 60 students with allergies after the machine's introduction, while it blocked more than 200 attempts to purchase foods that posed allergy risks. Among 25 overweight or obese students, 70% reduced their body mass index over two academic terms, and the share of healthy food purchases increased from 45% to 68% during the first three months of operation.