SafePlate

Live Demo: https://safeplate-phi.vercel.app/

Source Code: https://github.com/hfpg2026/safeplate

Team: Priyank Chaudhary, Qilu Xie

Opportunity — What problem are we solving, and why it matters

The Problem

Every year, SFA inspects 39,000+ food establishments across Singapore. They record hygiene grades, demerit points, and suspension histories. This data could help residents make safer dining choices — but almost nobody can access it.

The data exists as a GeoJSON file on data.gov.sg. There is no search portal. No mobile app. No way for a resident to check a hawker stall's safety record before ordering.

Who Experiences This

• Elderly residents — Singapore becomes a super-aged society by 2030, with 1 in 4 residents over 65. For Pioneer and Merdeka generations, food poisoning isn't just discomfort — it's a hospital visit.

• Parents with young children — checking food safety before a birthday party or family gathering.

• Tourists and new residents — unfamiliar with local establishments, relying on reviews that measure taste, not safety.

• Everyone eating out — Singapore has ~7 food establishments per 1,000 people. We eat out constantly. We deserve to know what we're eating.

What We Learned

We surveyed 19 Singapore residents. The findings:

Finding: 0 out of 19 knew the A/B/C/D grading system existed
Implication: Total communication failure

Finding: Those who knew couldn't explain what "Grade B" means
Implication: Letter grades aren't intuitive

Finding: SFA's planned QR codes aren't noticeable
Implication: Visual clutter in food establishments

-> This isn't a data problem. It's a last-mile delivery problem. The inspections happen. The data exists. But citizens can't use it.

Why It Matters

• Public health: Informed choices reduce foodborne illness, especially among vulnerable populations.

• Accountability: Citizens paid for these inspections. They deserve to see the results.

• Hawker culture: Singapore's hawker heritage is UNESCO-listed. Trust in local food safety protects that heritage.

What We Shipped

A fully functional search portal that makes SFA's food safety data accessible to every resident.

Core Features

Fuzzy Search Find establishments by name, address, or postal code — typos forgiven

Interactive Map See grade-colored markers across Singapore, pan to explore areas

Suspension Alerts 80 suspended establishments flagged with pulsing warning indicators

Grade Filters Show only Grade A, or toggle to see suspended-only

Mobile-First Works on any device, no app download required

What a User Can Do Now (That They Couldn't Before)

1. Type "Tampines" and instantly see every food establishment's hygiene grade

2. Filter to Grade A only — find the safest options in any neighbourhood

3. See suspension history before deciding to eat somewhere

4. Tap through to Google Maps for directions

What Still Needs Work

Real-time data sync
Status: Currently processing static GeoJSON; need API from SFA

Emoji label pilot
Status: Recommended system not yet tested in field

Multilingual UI
Status: Interface in English only; labels work across languages

User accounts
Status: No favourites or history yet

What We Tried That Didn't Work

• Initial map load with all 39,000 markers — browser crashed. Switched to bounds-based loading with limits (15 desktop, 8 mobile).

• Letter grade explanations in tooltips — users ignored them. Emojis communicate faster than text.

Traction — Early validation and what happens next

Who Used It

• 19 survey respondents — validated the problem (zero awareness of grading system)

• Internal testing — team members used it to check establishments before actual meals

• Hackathon demo audience — [to be updated after presentation]

What Users Said

"I've been eating at [establishment] for years. I had no idea they had demerit points." — Survey respondent

"Why doesn't SFA have something like this already?" — Internal tester

Evidence This Works Elsewhere

Denmark (Smiley scheme, 2001)
Outcome: "Virtually all consumers know it"

King County, USA (Emoji labels, 2017)
Outcome: Tested in 8 languages, 3,800 survey responses

UK (FHRS 5-star)
Outcome: Mandatory display in Wales increased compliance

King County's research is directly applicable to Singapore:

• Tested across Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Somali speakers

• Found emojis + descriptive labels outperform letter grades

• 4-year development with community input

What We're Asking For

1. Endorsement
Why: Link from sfa.gov.sg gives legitimacy
Effort: Low — one hyperlink

2. Data API
Why: Real-time sync instead of static file
Effort: Medium — SFA engineering

3. Pilot
Why: Test emoji labels at one hawker centre
Effort: Medium — signage + survey

Potential Impact (If Scaled)

Grade awareness
Target: 0% → 60%
Measurement: Follow-up survey

Monthly active users
Target: 10,000+
Measurement: Analytics

SFA inquiry reduction
Target: -30%
Measurement: Call centre volume

Establishments improving grades
Target: Track YoY
Measurement: SFA data

SafePlate is an independent project built during HFPG Hackathon 2026. It is not affiliated with the Singapore Food Agency.