Healthy Diet & Nutrition to Drive 3D Food Printing Market

The benefit of 3D food printing is modifying current food to suit one's taste and purpose. 3D food printing technology can be applied to a variety of food ranges. Many countries are currently producing unusual foods such as military food, space food, restaurants, floating food, and senior food using 3D food printers. Many people are unaware of the use of 3D food printing technology because it is still in its infancy. In various regions of the world, 3D food printing technology is being used in a variety of ways. After COVID-19, 3D food printing is projected to become a new trend.

Food 3D printing technology has a modest overall 3D printing usage and industry size due to issues such as poor institutionalization and a lack of standardized food materials for 3D food printing. The global 3d food printing market was valued USD 87.2 Million in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 48.60% during the forecast period from 2021 to 2030.   

Meat, chocolate, candy, pizza dough, cotton, and sauce, and other confectionery ingredients all of which have been popular in the restaurant sector, can be processed and produced utilizing 3D food printing technology. 3D food printing technology can manage the type and amount of ingredients, allowing for individualized food production by determining the amount, nutrient, and flavor properties of ingredients.

In COVID-19, a personalized service delivery business is predicted to grow in a climate that discourages personal contact owing to social distance. 3D food printing technology is predicted to enhance demand for the development of personalized foods for athletes, children, pregnant women, patients, and others in the post-corona future. As a result, customized foods necessitate a sensitive and creative process, which 3D food printing technology excels at.

Technological Advances in 3D Food Printing

Before manufacturing, 3D food printing technology necessitates the use of food design programs. The procedure algorithm can be designed and implemented using this application. The printing device recognizes the meal design order automatically. For layer accumulation, a 3D food printer uses a layer-by-layer procedure with continuous printing. These 3D printing techniques enable for the structure and shape of bespoke dishes to be completed by adding specific ingredients based on human tastes. When processed into personal items, food substrates such as chocolate, but not limited to (i.e., jelly and dough), are typically cast in molds or manually molded to achieve desired shapes. Furthermore, 3D food printers allow for the creation of a health food design that is automatically governed by personal medical data.

The Current and Future Outlook of Food 3D Printing Technology 

Types of personalized 3D food printing technology, the provision of appropriate materials suitable for the 3D printing process, and the application of 3D food printers to various food industries for the new normal era.

Material extrusion or powder bed fusion are the two additive methods of 3D food printing technology. Fused deposition modeling (FDM)/fused filament fabrication (FFF) are two extrusion methods, while multi jet fusion (MJF) or selective laser sintering are two powder-bed technologies (SLS).

3D Food Printing Technology for New Normal Era

The physical distancing between the consumer and the clerk plays an important role in post COVID-19 world, self-service has grown increasingly significant. Demand for customized 3D food printing services that produce unique food designs is growing, while non-contact production services are gaining popularity. Blue Rhapsody (Italy) launched bespoke pasta made to customers' tastes as an online offering with electronic transaction services. With COVID-19, the internet market has become more active, boosting the market share of new 3D printed foods. Similarly, Nourished (UK), sells tailored foods with a health, nutrition, and well-being theme, using pre-packaged items and an online sales system. Some other prominent companies include 3D Systems (US), TNO (Netherlands), byFlow (Netherlands), Systems and Materials Research Corporation (US) among others.