NAPERVILLE, IL — Derek Paulson, 41, learned Tuesday that his Samsung Family Hub refrigerator has been submitting detailed weekly nutritional summaries to his primary care physician for the past 28 months via an opt-in wellness integration feature he enabled while setting up the appliance and immediately forgot about.

The reports, which Dr. Yolanda Ferris of Naperville Family Medicine confirmed she has been receiving since February 2023, document Paulson’s food inventory changes, estimated caloric patterns, and a recurring late-night cheese event the refrigerator has logged as “habitual” on 94 separate occasions. Dr. Ferris noted the reports have been filed with greater regularity than Paulson’s actual appointments, of which he has attended two in the same period.

“Honestly, the refrigerator is a better patient,” Dr. Ferris said. “It shows up every week, its data is consistent, and it doesn’t tell me it’s been eating better lately.”

“I have a deductible. The refrigerator does not. This does not feel fair.”

Paulson said he discovered the feature after noticing a line item in his refrigerator’s companion app labeled “Care Network: Active.” He estimates he has consumed 847 items the refrigerator has classified under the app category “Reconsidering?” — a designation he was unaware existed.

“I clicked agree on something in 2023 and now my refrigerator has a better relationship with my doctor than I do,” Paulson said. “I feel like I should at least get a co-pay credit.”

At press time, Paulson’s refrigerator had flagged an incoming block of Havarti and pre-filed a concerned addendum.