Get FREE Lab-Tested Calorie Information for Your Menu
Help shape the next generation of AI for independent restaurants. Join an exclusive, fully funded AI research study by Nesta and New York University Abu Dhabi.
Email ukcal@nyu.edu to sign up · No cost, no catch
FREE laboratory calorie testing for your dishes
Save money and reduce future reporting costs
Early access to innovative AI technology
Personal support from the NYU research team
Optional publicity as an innovation partner
What's in it for you?
- FREE laboratory-tested calorie measurements for your menu items.
- Receive AI-generated calorie estimates to compare with lab results.
- Help build technology designed specifically for independent restaurants.
- Contribute to research that could reduce the future cost and burden of calorie reporting.
- Receive personal support from the NYU research team throughout the study.
What does participation involve?
- 1 Download the study app.
- 2 Complete a short onboarding process with basic business information.
- 3 Watch a brief instructional video.
- 4 Upload smartphone photos of 10–25 dishes.
- 5 Provide supporting information where available (e.g. dish name, ingredients). Share feedback via an in-app survey, phone call, or short interview.
From plate to calories in two easy steps
No special equipment beyond your phone. Here's what uploading a dish looks like.
Snap a dish
- Place the meal on a flat, well-lit surface.
- Use a plate and a credit-card-sized reference card for better accuracy.
- Take a top-view photo so the whole meal is visible.
- Add an optional description, then submit.
See AI results
- Review the AI-generated dish name and calorie count.
- Give quick feedback if something looks off.
- Save it to your dish history.
Independent small and medium-size food businesses
In the following areas — we're happy to consider other nearby areas too.
That sell one or more of the following:
Pizza
Margherita & Pepperoni
Burgers with chips
Beef & Chicken
Curries with naan/rice
Chicken Tikka Masala / Chicken Korma
Fish and Chips
/ Sausage and Chips
Sweet & Sour Chicken
with Egg Fried Rice / Chicken Chow Mein
No cost to your business
This is a fully funded research study. Participation is completely free.
Why this matters
Accurate calorie information can build customer trust, support healthier choices, and position your business as a leader in food transparency. Together, we can make healthy eating easier for everyone.
Everything the study app gives you
Instant AI recognition
Snap a photo and get a calorie estimate back in seconds — no spreadsheets, no lookups.
Trained across cuisines
From burgers and pizza to curries, fish & chips and Chinese dishes — UKcal understands a wide range of dishes.
Edit & give feedback
Refine any result and send feedback to help improve accuracy over time.
Save your dish history
Build a running record of every dish you've scanned, ready to reference for your menu.
Fits any business size
Whether you're a two-person café or a growing local chain, UKcal scales to your team.
Just your phone
No new hardware to install — UKcal runs on the camera your staff already carry.
Help shape the next generation of AI for independent restaurants
Register your restaurant for free lab-tested calorie information — no cost to you.
Register NowCommon questions
What is UKcal?
UKcal is an AI app that estimates calorie information for a plated dish from a single photo. It's part of a fully funded research study run by Nesta and New York University Abu Dhabi to build AI technology for independent restaurants.
Is there any cost to participate?
No. This is a fully funded research study, so participation is 100% free — there's no cost to your business.
How many spaces are available?
Only 25 spaces are available for this study, so we'd encourage you to register early.
Which areas and businesses are eligible?
Independent small and medium-size food businesses in Central London, Bracknell, Reading, Wokingham, Warfield and High Wycombe that sell pizza, burgers, curries, fish & chips, or sweet & sour chicken dishes. We're happy to consider other nearby areas too.
How do I get started?
Tap "Register Now" to fill out the short form, or email ukcal@nyu.edu to sign up directly. Our team will follow up with next steps.
Do I need any special equipment?
No. A phone camera is all you need. For best accuracy, plate the dish on a flat, well-lit surface and place a credit-card-sized reference card next to it.
Can I correct a result if it looks wrong?
Yes — every result can be edited, and you can send feedback directly from the app to help improve future accuracy.