What Is One Bite Safer?

• One Bite Safer is a platform designed to help people with food allergies safely choose what to eat at restaurants. It provides accurate, up-to-date, restaurant-specific allergen information so diners don’t have to rely solely on servers or guesswork.

How Does One Bite Safer Help People With Food Allergies?

• Faster, More Reliable Answers

• Instead of asking a server and hoping they know all the details, diners can access allergen information before they arrive at a restaurant. This information comes from a centralized database and can also be accessed through tools like AI, making answers quick, consistent, and less awkward to get.

• Less Stress When Dining Out

• Users can filter dishes by specific allergens to quickly find safer options.

• This reduces anxiety and avoids stressful, last-minute menu decisions.

• It’s especially helpful when dining in groups or unfamiliar places.

• Helpful for Families and Caregivers

• Parents and caregivers can plan meals ahead of time for children with food allergies.

• Older children can learn to use the tool independently, building confidence and safety awareness.

How Does One Bite Safer Help When Traveling or Dining in New Areas?

• Find Safe Options Anywhere

• Because the platform is searchable by location, users can find allergy-friendly options wherever they are, without relying on local knowledge, trial and error, or outdated guides.

• Language and Communication Support

• Allergen information can be automatically translated, helping users communicate their needs in foreign countries.

• Diners don’t have to depend entirely on restaurant staff or struggle with language barriers.

• Information is available in the user’s preferred language, even in areas with limited food allergy awareness.

Why Centralized Allergen Information Matters

• Currently, allergen information is scattered across restaurant websites, printed menus, multiple documents, or only known by staff. One Bite Safer centralizes all this information in one place, in a consistent and easy-to-understand format. This helps diners avoid outdated, incomplete, or unreliable sources and makes safe dining decisions much easier.

Why can’t people just ask the staff like they do now?

• They can, and we always suggest asking the staff to double check information. However, our project makes this information available always and accessible more widely (examples: people who do not speak English natively, busy restaurants, etc.) 

• Staff may not be trained, kitchens may change ingredients, and communication may not be reliable. Our project removes the guesswork by making allergen data clearer, structured, and verified whenever possible.

How does One Bite Safer handle cross-contamination risks?

• Our database focuses on ingredient-based allergen info, as cross contamination can vary daily depending on kitchen practices. We clearly advise users to ask restaurant staff directly about cross-contact risks. This platform reduces uncertainty about ingredients but can’t replace staff communication for handling cross-contamination. 

• If cross contamination is noticed in a restaurant it can be reported on our website to caution othersn text goes here

How will you ensure the data is accurate?

• We’ll use a combination of official sources (like restaurant provided allergen charts), community reports, and verification steps like upvoting and moderation. 

• Users will also be reminded that authoritative confirmation of presence/absence of allergens should come from staff, but our goal is to reduce surprises and increase informed decision making.

Why use both crowdsourcing and official restaurant info?

• Official data can be limited or slow to update. Crowdsourcing adds real-world observations, for example, if a chain changes its bread supplier and it now contains sesame, the community can flag that faster than a restaurant update might.

What happens if two people report different information for the same dish?

• The entry gets flagged, and we request additional submissions until we have a consensus. We also alert diners that the information is “conflicted” so they can confirm directly with staff.

How can using AI help improve food allergy safety in restaurants?

• AI tools like ChatGPT can instantly analyze and present allergen information in a clear, conversational format, saving time for both diners and restaurant staff. 

• Instead of asking multiple questions and waiting for servers to confirm details, users can simply ask the chat and get tailored answers based on up-to-date menu data. This reduces confusion, speeds up decisions, and helps prevent accidental exposure.

What makes your project different from existing apps or websites?

• Most current tools either focus on general dietary preferences or they have limited coverage of data. Our project is designed specifically for life threatening allergies, uses a crowdsourced verification system, and integrates with tools like ChatGPT to make the data conversational, easy to access, and continuously updated.

How can AI use the data?

• AI tools can instantly turn raw allergen data into clear, conversational answers tailored to each diner. It could flag dishes or restaurants that are likely risky based on past reports. AI could also generate safe meal plans or restaurant recommendations tailored to your allergens, diet, and location.

Apps can be made using the data to : 

• Map: An app could show nearby restaurants with allergen-safe options, filtered to your personal profile.

• Alerts: If a restaurant you’ve saved changes ingredients, the app notifies you instantly.

• For traveling: The app could switch to your preferred language and display allergen translations when you’re abroad.

• For groups: Friends and families could sync their allergen profiles to find restaurants safe for everyone in the group.