Could 3D Printed Food Help People with Difficulty Swallowing?

3D printed food is nothing new. Several companies, like Steakholder Foods and Forma Foods, have 3D printed meat and fish alternatives. Others have 3D printed chocolate and reconstituted fruits and vegetables. An international team of researchers at the University of West England Bristol, however, was driven by a unique mission: they wanted to 3D print food for people who have difficulty swallowing.

The UWE team was successful, and this month they developed 3D printed meals suitable for people with dysphagia. Dysphagia, the medical term for swallowing difficulties, is a growing concern for today’s aging population. People with dysphagia struggle to swallow certain food and liquids, and some can’t swallow at all. Often, people with dysphagia puree their food and thicken their liquids to manage swallowing, but pureeing food can be bland and unappetizing, and lack nutritional variety.

The 3D printed structure from different angles

The UWE team was the first to use an extrusion-based 3D food printer to produce multi-ingredient, nutritionally balanced and visually appealing meals that are safe to swallow and digest. Using pureed garden peas, strained Greek yogurt, extra virgin olive oil, powdered organic mint leaves and vegetable stock, the team produced the special meals. They also experimented with novel combinations of food-grade thickeners and gelling agents to ensure an appropriate texture and viscosity.