The 3D printing of food, it sounds interesting, but outside its decorative uses, the idea does not appeal to the majority of people out there. That’s not to say eventually, as the technology behind food printing matures, there won’t be a market for such a product. One German company however, called Biozoon, which we covered in an article six weeks ago, has found an interesting application for 3D food printing. Believe it or not, it just might be a multi-million dollar business idea, while at the same time helping a countless number of less fortunate individuals.
As we mentioned in last month’s article, Biozoon targets a group of individuals who suffer from dysphagia, a condition which makes it difficult for a person to swallow their food. Instead of the way you and I may swallow, without even thinking about it, their larynx does not close properly. The condition is rather common among the elderly. It is estimated that 20% of individuals 50 years of age and older have difficulty swallowing to some degree, due to dysphagia.
This makes the Biozoon technology perfect for the growing number of elderly individuals living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. This week, further details emerged about the 3D printers that Biozoon had been working on. Apparently the printers are now spitting out all sorts of food puree. The printers which use 48 nozzles, via a jetting technology, combine puree of fresh ingredients like asparagus, chicken, pork, peas, pasta, and potatoes with a substance, which Biozoon prefers to keep a secret. It then prints those ingredients out in whatever shape the user desires. The secret substance allows for the puree to hold its shape, but at the same time melt in the mouth of whoever takes a bit. Sandra Forstner, the project manager for Biozoon, explained to Munchies, a food blog, how the printer is able to print in different shapes and textures.
“The printer is controlled by software where you can program, more or less, every kind of shape. The printing material itself will provide the taste since it’s normally spiced food purée, combined with the newly developed texturizing system that will be printed onto the plate. This means that with the printer we cannot adjust the taste, only the shape.”
According to Munchies, Biozoon is the coordinator of the project, however, several companies are involved, including Foodjet, who provides the ink jetting technology for the SmoothFood project in nursing homes. Biozoon is also responsible for developing texturing technologies for the printers. They currently have 4 different types of textures that they are able to achieve. They are able to produce foods with an airy foam, stable foam, gel, or thickened liquid textures. The ability to give different foods, different textures, goes a long way towards making the food almost as palatable as the solid alternative.
The project is currently under way in nursing homes as we write this article. All the food is prepared off-site, and shipped in as needed. Whether it’s a dessert, an appetizer, a main course or snack, there are 3D printing solutions for them all. For more details on this story, and to discuss Biozoon, and this project, check out the 3DPB.com forum thread for 3D printed food.
Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter
Stay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors.
You May Also Like
3D Printing Unpeeled: Biofuel Waste to Filament & Sustainable Photopolymers
I can’t ever remember a day with so many potentially high impact news stories have come out. In one story, we all know that there are problems with the safety...
Finnair Hires AM Craft to 3D Print Plastic Parts for Aircraft Interiors
Riga-based AM Craft, a supplier specialized in 3D printing aviation components and certified under EASA Part 21G, announced a significant achievement today. The company will assist in upgrading Finnair’s A320...
3DPOD Episode 198: High Speed Sintering with Neil Hopkinson, VP of AM at Stratasys
Neil Hopkinson, a pioneering 3D printing researcher, played a pivotal role in developing a body of research that is widely utilized today. He also invented High Speed Sintering (HSS), also...
3D Printing Webinar and Event Roundup: May 12, 2024
Webinars and events are picking up in the AM industry this week! ASTM International continues its Professional Certificate Course and Stratasys continues its advanced in-person trainings, while 3D Systems is...