A team of researchers announced on Apr. 9 the development of a new technology-driven tool designed to help grocery shoppers make healthier and more affordable food choices, particularly in communities with limited access to nutritious foods.
The project is significant because it addresses the complex decisions consumers face when balancing nutrition, cost, and personal preferences while shopping for groceries. By considering the entire shopping cart rather than evaluating items individually, the Food Information System aims to provide practical recommendations that reflect real-world behavior.
Developed by researchers from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, University of Notre Dame, and Purdue University, the system integrates real-time store prices, nutrition data, and individual dietary goals. In an eight-week study involving participants aged 23 to 65 from a low-income community, users reported feeling more informed and in control after using the tool. According to co-author Tawanna Dillahunt of the U-M School of Information: “Most designers assume people want decisions made for them; however, tools that help develop our capacity to become better decision-makers were most preferred.”
During the study’s first phase without the tool, participants shopped as usual. In later weeks with app support and grocery stipends, they were more likely to choose staple foods such as fruits and vegetables but found it harder to change their preferences for snacks or sweets. While overall diet scores did not shift significantly during this period, many reported increased nutritional awareness and intentional shopping habits—factors seen as important for long-term change.
Lead author Annalisa Szymanski from Notre Dame said: “Users want a deliberative tool, not a prescriptive one. They don’t want the app to decide for them—they want it to help them make better decisions.” Researchers emphasize that supporting user independence through transparency and personalization can be more effective than rigid recommendations.
The research will be presented at an upcoming conference on April 15 in Barcelona. The University of Michigan Ann Arbor is recognized as a public research university offering diverse academic programs across campuses in Ann Arbor—where its main campus is located—as well as Dearborn and Flint according to its official website. The institution also highlights its mission in advancing knowledge while cultivating leaders who address challenges within Michigan and beyond according to its official website.
