At WellSpan York Hospital, a new robotic kitchen is putting a fresh, new spin on hospital food.
Fresh Take Eatery, developed in collaboration with RoboEatz and ABB Robotics, is serving up meals around the clock for staff, visitors and patients’ families.
The AI-powered kitchen can prepare everything from pasta to salads at the push of a button. The system pulls ingredients from storage bins, weighs them automatically and follows recipes programmed by staff.
“We wanted to have more access to hot, healthy food here on the campus,” said Roxanna Gapstur, president and CEO of WellSpan health. “This allows us to provide meals 24/7, 365.”
Behind the scenes, dozens of ingredients are stored in bins that the robot can grab when preparing a meal.
“When you see it taking ingredients, those fingers that are holding that container are weighing everything that’s coming out,” said Michael Long, WellSpan’s food service director. “All the recipes are built by weight.”
The robot can cook multiple meals at once and sends customers a text message when their order is ready. Hospital officials say most meals take just a few minutes to prepare.
Leaders say the technology helps address a common challenge in hospitals: finding hot food late at night.
“A lot of times, options in the middle of the night are grab-and-go,” Gapstur said. “Sometimes, you don’t want to go far from your loved one when they’re under care, so this, centrally located within the hospital, allows a very quick option for hot, healthy meals.”
The robotic kitchen has been in the works for about two years after hospital leaders saw a prototype of the technology and decided to bring it to York.
Now, staff members are learning how to work alongside their newest teammate.
“There’s a lot to learn still,” Long said. “We’re going to continue to learn along the way and help them grow.”
If early reactions are any indication, the robot chef may quickly become one of the busiest workers in the building.
Originally written by: Tyler Poglitsch
Source: FOX43
Published on: 9 March 2026
Link to original article: Robot chef cooks meals 24/7 at WellSpan York Hospital
