SafeBot: An AI-Driven Chatbot Empowering Consumers to Report Foodborne Illness

By Maryam Ajasa

Every year, an estimated 48 million people in the United States suffer from foodborne illness, yet many of these cases go unreported due to barriers such as lack of awareness, confusion about symptoms, and uncertainty about where to report incidents. Recognizing this persistent challenge, Maryam, a graduate student at Iowa State University with a research interest in AI and food safety developed SafeBot, a prototype AI-powered chatbot designed to simplify and improve how consumers report foodborne illness symptoms, transforming awareness into action for safer dining and stronger public health systems. Her work bridges research, teaching and outreach, promoting safer, smarter, and more equitable food systems.

A New Way to Report Foodborne Illness

SafeBot reimagines the traditional foodborne illness reporting process as an interactive, educational experience. Instead of passively collecting data, the chatbot guides users through a structured conversation, prompting them to recall essential details such as:

• What they ate
• Where and when they ate
• When symptoms began
• What symptoms occurred

By asking precise and thoughtful questions, SafeBot ensures that reports include complete and accurate information, which is crucial for identifying potential foodborne pathogens and improving the quality of public health data.

Supporting Public Health Investigations

SafeBot aim to apply simple predictive logic to help identify possible pathogens based on the symptoms and timeline users report. It will organize this information into a format that could assist health departments and food safety investigators in conducting faster, more effective outbreak responses.

This innovative approach transforms consumers into active participants in food safety governance, empowering them to recognize and report foodborne illnesses while contributing to safer and more transparent agrifood systems.

The Design and Development Journey

Maryam developed SafeBot through an iterative AI design process using generative AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Poe Bot, and Copilot. The prototype underwent multiple rounds of refinement to enhance prompting strategies and manage user input more effectively.

The project began as a response to the global issue of under-reporting foodborne illnesses and evolved into a model for AI-driven health communication tools. Each iteration strengthened SafeBot's usability, accessibility, and capacity to bridge the gap between public awareness and policy action.

🔗 Try SafeBot

Learning and Future Goals

Through this innovation, Maryam Ajasa demonstrates how artificial intelligence can advance public health by empowering individuals with tools that encourage proactive food safety behavior. Future plans include integrating data analytics and pattern recognition features to enable SafeBot to detect early signs of outbreaks and contribute to predictive food safety surveillance.

SafeBot represents a significant step toward inclusive, data-informed food safety systems that emphasize transparency, rapid response, and community engagement across local and global contexts.

AFLEC Volunteers at the Iowa State vs. Iowa Football Game

On September 6, 2025, the AFLEC team had the privilege of volunteering during the Iowa State University vs. University of Iowa football game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa.

The team of dedicated volunteers led by Linus Godspower, representing diverse parts of Africa, was stationed at the Northeast Victory Bell concession stand, where we managed sales of popcorn, soda, bottled water, hot dogs, cheddar sausage, nachos with cheese and chili, and pretzels to the fans.

The game ended with an exciting win for Iowa State University (16–13). It was a truly rewarding experience that showcased AFLEC’s spirit of teamwork, service, and community engagement.

Past AFLEC President Bags MSc

Sandra Serwaa Boateng, the immediate past president of AFLEC, earned her Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning this summer. At the university’s commencement ceremony she was formally conferred with her degree, in recognition of her outstanding work. Throughout her tenure leading AFLEC, Sandra championed several mentorship and outreach initiatives.

Doctoral Candidate Onyeka Certified for GradSWE ISU Service

Onyeka was recognized this spring for her outstanding service in the Graduate Society of Women Engineers at ISU, earning a formal certification of leadership and community engagement.