3D printing to revolutionise food industry

As the technology gets cheaper and more sophisticated, people could be printing food within 10 years - a development that would majorly impact how long it takes to get a meal from the computer to the dinner table, said Hod Lipson, a professor of engineering at Columbia University.

“No matter what field you are in, [3D] technology will worm its way in,” Lipson said.

“No matter what field you are in, [3D] technology will worm its way in

Professor Hod Lipson

“The technology is getting faster, cheaper and better by the minute. Food printing could be the killer app for 3D printing,” she said.

Lipson - whose comments were made during an address at IFT15, hosted by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) - said 3D printing is a good fit for the food industry because it allows manufacturers to bring complexity and variety to consumers at a low cost.

According to Lipson, users could potentially choose from a large online database of recipes, put a cartridge with the ingredients into their 3D printer at home and create a bespoke dish.

What’s more, users could also customise their dishes to include extra nutrients or replace one ingredient with another, Lipson said.

Food for thought

Though not widely used in food production, the accessibility of 3D printers is fuelling research into how they can be used to customise foods or speed delivery of food to consumers.

Anshul Dubey, research and development senior manager at food and beverage manufacturing firm PepsiCo, said 3D printing is already having an impact within the company.

PepsiCo has performed studies wherein a number of focus groups were shown 3D-printed plastic prototypes of different shaped and coloured crisps.

According to Dubey, using a three dimensional model, as opposed to a picture, elicits a more accurate response from focus group participants.

“Even though the future of food 3D printing looks far off, that doesn’t mean it’s not impacting the industry,” he said.