Patent ID: 7899709

Claim:
A food identification and tracking system, comprising: a plurality of containers, each container being adapted to hold a food item; a plurality of identification tags, each tag being affixed to one of the plurality of containers and having electronically-readable data stored thereon for identifying a food item being held by the respective container; a sensor configured to electronically read the data stored on the tag of a container that is brought into proximity of the sensor; an electronic display in communication with the sensor to receive the data identifying a food item in a container that has been brought into proximity of the sensor and to electronically display the identification of the food item to consumers while the container is in proximity to the display; and a conveyor configured to convey the plurality of containers in a loop around a space, wherein the containers are placed on the conveyor by the operator of the food identification and tracking system to offer the food items in the containers for consumption, and wherein the conveyor is configured to bring each of the containers into proximity of the sensor and the display, wherein the electronic display is a stationary display separate from the conveyor and, as a container on the conveyor passes along a length of the display, the display is configured to electronically scroll the identification of the food item in the container simultaneously along the length of the display at a rate that matches the movement of the container on the conveyor.