**AN OVERBROAD PATENT ON INVENTORY SYSTEMS** - This application from Wendi Wheaton seeks to patent an inventory system that manages food based on its expiry dates! 10 minutes of your time can help narrow this US patent application before it becomes a patent.

**QUESTION** - Have you seen anything that was **published before Nov 14, 2011** that discusses:

> 
> A food inventory system comprising: a microprocessor connected to a data storage device; means for entry and removal of food items or recipes; means for display; assigning a food item a weighted value correlated with the time until food spoilage for said food item; categorizing each food item entered as refrigerator, freezer, or pantry.
> 
> 
> 

If you've ever seen anything like this before, please submit evidence of prior art as an answer to this question -- one piece of prior art per answer. We welcome multiple answers from a single individual.

TITLE: **Method and Device for Expiration Date Weighted Food Inventory System and Meal Planner**

**Summary**: manages data on current food supply taking into consideration its expiry dates and provides recommendations for shopping for new food and consuming existing food

* **Publication Number**: [US20130138656](http://www.google.com/patents/US20130138656)
* **Assignee**: Wendi Wheaton
* **Prior Art Date**: Seeking prior Art **predating** Nov 14, 2011
* **Open for Challenge at USPTO:** Open through Nov 30, 2013

**Claim 1** requires each and every step below:

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> A food inventory system comprising:
> 
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> 1. a microprocessor connected to a data storage device;
> 2. means for entry and removal of food items or recipes;
> 3. means for display;
> 4. assigning a food item a weighted value correlated with the time until food spoilage for said food item;
> 5. categorizing each food item entered as refrigerator, freezer, or pantry.
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> 
> 

In English this means:

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> managing supply of food taking into account food expiration date
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> 
> 

This looks like a generic inventory system, just for food. Expiration dates are very common with chemicals, food, fuel, other supplies.

Good prior art would be evidence of a system that did each and every one of these steps prior to Dec 6, 2011.

*What is good prior art? Please see our [FAQ](https://patents.stackexchange.com/faq#prior-art).*

*Want to help? Please vote or comment on submissions below. We welcome you to [post your own request for prior art](https://patents.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/prior-art-request) on other questionable US Patent Applications.*