It’s hard to imagine food prepared in a printer can be tasty and look good. But a presentation at a 3D food printing conference today shows how printed foods could improve the lives of people with swallowing disorders. These people are only able to eat foods textured in a particular way, which often don’t look very nice on the plate.
But while 3D printing may make foods safer and more appealing to the eye, we still don’t have enough evidence to ensure this is the case.
What are swallowing disorders?
Swallowing disorders, or dysphagia, affect around 8% of the world’s population. This includes people with physical or intellectual disability, cancers of the mouth or throat, neurological conditions such as stroke or Parkinson’s disease, and most people living in aged care.
A swallowing disorder can affect nutrition, breathing and quality of life...