Abstract: The system and method to measure, identify, and reduce food defects from manual or automated processes uses a combination of sensors, computer vision, and machine learning to optimize yield, and quality for food processes. Specific features are monitored, analyzed, and quantified. Real time and aggregated data are available to relevant stakeholders to aid in understanding and optimizing food yield, quality and throughput. A cut guidance protocol, fingerprinting and embedding of food object is done using food data from a database in a processor.