A team of scientists from the University of Bristol, led by Dr Alexandros Stratakoshas achieved a significant milestone by creating 3D printed meals, designed to be easy to chew and swallow. Thanks to the use of an extrusion-based food 3D printer, they managed to develop a complete and pleasant nutritional alternative for people suffering from dysphagia, a condition that makes swallowing difficult.
To address the problem of unappealing and monotonous textures, researchers collaborated with clinical nutritionists to create nutritious and diverse dishes, using ingredients such as blended peas, filtered Greek yogurt, extra virgin olive oil, powdered mint leaves and vegetable broth. The main challenge was finding the ideal combination of thickening and gelling agents to achieve a safe consistency suitable for people with dysphagia, as explained by Stratakos:
With our 3D printed food, the risk of food particles getting stuck in your throat or esophagus is greatly reduced. The final product requires less chewing and offers greater control when swallowing.
Towards an innovative nutritional solution
While previous research into 3D printed food has focused on single-theme meals, UWE Bristol’s project stands out for creating a solution that balances taste, nutrition and texture. The creation of multi-ingredient foods that are high in calories and rich in fiber and protein has received positive feedback from both dysphagia patients and their caregivers, who have indicated that they are willing to purchase such products if commercially available.
For food printing, ingredients are placed in cartridges placed inside the 3D printer. The extrusion process “deposits” layers of food on the plate forming a three-dimensional structure in about 20 minutes. Meals can be presented in different shapes, making them more visually appealing as well.
The project is the result of an international collaboration between the United Kingdom, Greece and Serbia, with the participation of researchers from the Universities of Peloponnese and Novi Sad. Stratakos now hopes to secure funding to start a clinical trial and predicts that future developments could lead to the adoption of 3D food printers in care homes and hospitals.
