A food identification and tracking system includes a plurality of
containers adapted to hold food items. An electronically-readable tag is
affixed to each of the containers. The data stored on the tags may
include information, such as an identification of a food item being held
by the container, the ingredients of the food item, and/or the price of
the food item, for example. The containers may be distributed by way of a
conveyor system offering the food items in the containers for
consumption. One or more sensors positioned relative to the conveyor may
electronically read the data stored on a tag and cause the identification
of the food item in a container to be shown on a display. When the data
in each tag includes an indicator of the price of the food item, the cost
of all the food item(s) consumed by a consumer may be calculated for
payment.