AI startups want to crack open recipe book in Big Food’s test kitchens
AI startups want to crack open recipe book in Big Food’s test kitchens
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/14/big-food-ai-recipes.html
Publish Date: 2026-02-14 08:44:00
Source Domain: www.cnbc.com
- Major food companies like McCormick and Unilever have been using AI to accelerate flavor development and recipe testing, resulting in shorter product development cycles.
- AI is seen as a tool to augment human expertise in flavor and product development, rather than to replace human judgment.
- Emerging startups are building AI-powered platforms designed to predict consumer responses and streamline the food product creation process, though their effectiveness remains uncertain.
- Industry analysts predict a significant growth in AI’s application within the food industry, from about $10 billion in 2025 to over $50 billion by 2030.
- Food scientists caution that while AI can support efficiency, it faces significant limitations in predicting human sensory perception due to its variability.
- AI will likely be most valuable in handling the increasing complexity of food design due to health, sustainability, and cost constraints, rather than in creative flavor formulation.
- Despite their efforts, most experts agree that human sensory experience and judgment remain irreplaceable in determining what consumers find palatable.
