Dec 9 2014
A research consortium is using 3D printing technology to develop an industrial process for producing food for elderly people who have difficulty in swallowing or chewing food. This endeavor is part of PERFORMANCE, an EU-funded project which is scheduled for completion in 2015.
Image credits to: Ross Pollack
The population of the elderly in Europe, who are 65 or older, is expected to increase from 17% in 2010 to 30% by the year 2060. Different technologies are available to help them live independently; however, many elderly people have difficulties in chewing and swallowing food which makes them vulnerable to malnutrition.
These technologies span from those that enable the aged to live independently to diets or medications that are suitable for this age group. “These people often receive unattractive, porridge-like food, seven days a week,” Matthias Kück, project coordinator and CEO of Biozoon tells youris.com. But “meals are socially important for elderly people,” he adds.
The research consortium aims to prepare “food in such a way, that these people are able to eat safely and even enjoy their meals,” he says. The smooth food concept is presently being used in many German residential homes for the elderly. “Large industrial food producers mainly use egg or starch to solidify their strained food. But this food all tastes the same,” Kück says.
The project researchers tried out a plant-based solidifying agent which allowed the food to be reshaped using silicon moulds. However, according to Kück, “this approach is not suitable for large canteens or catering services,”. “We therefore apply 3D printing technology to industrialise the manufacturing process,” explains Sandra Forstner, project manager at Biozoon.
Using 3D printing, food can be printed layer by layer, in desired forms, and with taste and nutrition. The desired minerals, vitamins and proteins can be added. “Thus, we can personalise the food, for example in terms of caloric content or serving size to avoid malnutrition,” Forstner says. However, the safety of food must be considered throughout food supply chain including packaging and delivery and the consortium works on these aspects too.
The researchers are presently attempting to find out methods of producing printable foods including meat and vegetables. Once the project is completed, a prototype of the food printer shall be available. The researchers also plan to conduct studies in nursing homes to test food acceptance by the elderly.
Experts agree to the fact that the large number of frail aged persons require a special diet. “The issue of nutrition is crucial and malnutrition is a large problem”, says Giovanni Lamura, senior researcher at the National Institute of Health and Science on Aging in Ancona, Italy. The project would be useful for the special food products designed for residential homes and home care services. Further, Lamura considers 3D printing as advancement if it “can help to reduce costs.”
Herman Peppelenbos, project manager at Wageningen UR Food and Biobased Research in the Netherlands, comments that the project had a very interesting approach. “Particularly if you are able to make the food tasty and nutritional,” he adds. “In theory, using 3D printing you can have more variation in texture,” he tells youris.com. Further he emphasizes the importance of food safety issues in the supply chain.
Dorothee Volkert, professor for clinical nutrition in the elderly at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, comments that “acceptance studies need to be planned carefully.” She adds, “The product development also needs to be guided by the preferences of the elderly for more traditional meals.” However, “if they are able to eat again in the first place” most people are happy she concludes.