For next year the conclusion of Performance is expected, a project funded by the European Union that is focused on the development of food with 3D printing for the elderly. And it is that according to reports, while this population is vulnerable to malnutrition, on many occasions it is supplied with unattractive food, as well as difficult to chew and swallow.
Given this fact, European researchers have opted for 3D printing for the preparation of meats and vegetables, which, in addition to aesthetics and their own nutrients, have textures digestible by the elderly.
Delving into the plan, it became known –through europa.eu- that the person in charge of Perfomance is Matthias Kück, CEO of Biozoon, a German company dedicated to the production of innovative foods; and which, in 2010, the concept of “smoothfood” was proposed – to rebuild food and increase its digestibility – and which is now used in various nursing homes in Germany.
Example of smoothfood: Food such as a chicken fillet are cooked, crushed and strained, to reconstitute them in gelatinized form.
In this sense, it should be noted that although the concept in question sounds very attractive, Kück himself has warned that expanding its availability has its limitations, as the process is expensive and takes a long time; however, this is when Performance would enter the scene, to remedy this scourge by betting on industrialization.
Following the previous line, the aforementioned portal has also reported that there are already ten private partners and four research institutes that are developing 3D printing technology and texturing systems to make safe, appetizing and affordable meals.