TECH

A German company is printing food for the elderly

John Biggs

TechCrunch

A 3D Systems ChefJet Pro 3D food printer at the 2014 International CES, January 9, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.. The ChefJet Pro can print multi-colored confections with sugar and a single added flavor and is intended for commercial use in the hospitality industry such as hotels, restaurants and personal chefs. The ChefJet Pro will come with a Digital Cookbook to help new users design 3D printed confections. The ChefJet Pro is expected to hit the market in the second half of 2014 for a approximately USD $10,000. The smaller and less expensive ChefJet printer is expected to price at USD $5,000.

A German company, Biozoon, is working on a 3D-printed food extruder that creates food that literally melts in your mouth, allowing elderly patients with dysphagia – the inability to swallow – to eat without choking.

Biozoon uses molecular gastronomy to create food that can be "printed" using a standard extruder-based printer. The food solidifies and is completely edible but when it's eaten it quickly dissolves in the mouth. Over 60% of older patients have problems swallowing. This could save lives by ensuring they don't aspirate food crumbs into their lungs.

The product itself can be molded and extruded in different ways and you can add colorants and texturizers to make things look and taste almost like the real thing.

The powder mixes in the seneoPro® range can be easily prepare for new forms of nutrition. Starters, main courses, desserts and snacks can be made which meet individual requirements, are balanced and above all optically appealing.

According to the website:

The powder mixtures of seneoPro series enable universal implementation so that both family caregivers and professional cooks and nurses can easily make the new diets. Appetizers, main dishes, desserts and snacks can now custom fit, balanced and also be made visually appealing above all things. A food with all your senses, pleasure and enjoyment is possible again, a structured daily functioning can be restored.

The product, called seneoPro, will be available for use in 3D printers this year. It is true "customized" food and it's a fascinating use of the technology.

This story originally appeared on TechCrunch.

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