Abstract: A system and process for automatically monitoring and assessing the quality of food items stored in a refrigerator scans and captures images of the food with at least one camera or 3D scanner mounted in the refrigerator. A processor connected with the camera or scanner uses software including a MATLAB package, a Structured Query Language (SQL) database, and a Database Toolbox that lets the user store data in and access databases from MATLAB with SQL support, enabling the user to analyze, explore, and manipulate the data. A user interface touchscreen on the refrigerator displays the results of a scan and lets the user request a scan or a report at other than a normally scheduled time. The touchscreen also displays the location of food items in the refrigerator.