World Monitor Mag WM_June 2018 web | Page 90

3-D food printers and healthy diet Scientists from Ewha Woman’s University (South Korea) created a 3-D food printer that produces food with a specific substance of nutrients and in-advance defined flavoring properties. Jin-Gu Lee, author of the development, presented his invention at the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in San Diego on 24 April 2018. South Korean scientists from Ewha Woman’s University developed a 3-D printer that turns powdery ingredients into full-value food products with a specific substance of nutrients and in-advance defined flavoring properties. The main nutrients (for example, carbohydrates and proteins) are chopped into powder at -100 °C. Then it is heated and turned into porous membrane (skin). Afterwards a 3-dimensional product is created out of several membrane layers. The uniqueness of this invention is that you can get a food product enriched with nutrients in necessary proportion simply by combining membranes with various content of proteins, carbohydrates, microelements and vitamins. Moreover, there is room to experiment with flavour palette of the products, blending powdery pear and apple as an example. “We think that one day any person can purchase cartridges that contain powdery analogues for various ingredients that we can ‘put together’ with the help of 3-D printing and ‘cook a meal’ in accordance with individual needs and preferences”, -announced Mr Jin-Gu Lee, this invention’s creator and researcher from the Ewha University. As per the developers this new technology will significantly decrease the quantity of food waste and financial costs for storage and transportation of products. According to scientists their invention might 86 world monitor also help to satisfy the need of the growing population in food. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Earth’s population will increase from the current 7.6 billion people up to 9.8 billion people in 2050, and will then reach 11.2 billion in 2100. “If a family provides itself with 3-D printer it might not be afraid of hunger. We are just in the beginning of this journey. We keep on optimizing our development to create individual food products that are stored longer than the regular ones”, outlined Mr Jin-Gu Lee. The first ever 3-D food printers appeared in 2015 and could cook a very simple food. One such device (machines) works at FoodInk 3-D restaurant that opened in London in 2016. Everything, from products to furniture and cutlery, in this place is created on the 3-D printer. The restaurant offers its visitors nine meals on menu. The used 3-D printer at this restaurant is usual. Paste made of edible ingredients, for example cottage cheese and chocolate mousse, plays the role of ink. According to some nutritionists this development by Korean scientists will help people to maintain a healthy diet. However, the experts emphasize that ‘self-treatment’ with the help of 3-D printer is not recommended. It is better to see the medical specialist anyways.