[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/3d-printed-food-can-help-the-elderly\/#NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/3d-printed-food-can-help-the-elderly\/","headline":"3D Printed Food Can Help the Elderly","name":"3D Printed Food Can Help the Elderly","description":"Fill Me In It is now possible to cater to people with chewing and swallowing difficulties through 3D food printing. Read on to find out more about how this advanced technology can help the elderly.\u00a0 Singapore\u2019s elderly population A quarter of Singapore\u2019s population will be made up of older people by 2030. Growing old poses […]","datePublished":"2020-10-28","dateModified":"2022-04-15","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/author\/tricia-lim\/#Person","name":"Tricia Lim","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/author\/tricia-lim\/","identifier":71,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e1a1cd2426a2adfc25039c9612619687925cf2cec7aebcdfcc5b783f40d9872?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e1a1cd2426a2adfc25039c9612619687925cf2cec7aebcdfcc5b783f40d9872?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"TheHomeGround Asia","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/photo_2021-07-22-222533.jpeg","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/photo_2021-07-22-222533.jpeg","width":640,"height":640}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/1603714451584_3d_food.jpg","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/1603714451584_3d_food.jpg","height":500,"width":750},"url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/3d-printed-food-can-help-the-elderly\/","about":["Community","Food","Local","Singapore"],"wordCount":689,"articleBody":"Fill Me InIt is now possible to cater to people with chewing and swallowing difficulties through 3D food printing. Read on to find out more about how this advanced technology can help the elderly.\u00a0Singapore\u2019s elderly populationA quarter of Singapore\u2019s population will be made up of older people by 2030. Growing old poses health issues, such as malnutrition due to difficulty in chewing or swallowing. Not gaining proper nutrients through food can also cause a loss of bone and muscle mass in the elderly.\u00a0Challenges in feeding the oldIn an interview with Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), Ms Jolene Choo, Accredited Nutritionist, Fei Yue Retirees Centre said, \u201cCurrently, food prepared in hospitals and nursing homes are generally in the form of purees which is lumped together. We cannot see food such as broccoli in its shape, so it\u2019s very difficult for the seniors to consume these food.\u201dPrincipal dietitian, Gladys Wong, also said, \u201cThe food (must be) nutritious as well and, more importantly, be visually appealing (so) that the elderly patient or people (who had a) stroke are able to eat it and want to eat it.\u201d\u00a0Elderly with trouble swallowing food is the prime audience for 3D printed food, as it can be fully customised nutritionally and aesthetically, which encourages them to eat more.\u00a0How it worksTypically, 3D food printers are used to make chocolates and pastries. The food is prepared by additive manufacturing, where pureed ingredients are filled into the printer cartridge. The printer will then print out the puree in whatever form is desired by the user. This method of food preparation allows for fully customisable meals in terms of nutrition and visual presentation. It works well as a method of feeding the elderly as it looks appetising.\u00a0Printing meals locally3D printing is not a new technology, but it is usually associated with creating materials to build automobiles and houses. But Russian cosmonauts explored the possibilities and printed meat in space last October, proving how useful the technology can be. Researchers are currently working to advance the methods of food printing, including developing a new kind of food ink, which can be used to maintain the food structure, which is somewhat similar to toothpaste.\u00a0Researchers working with Khoo Teck Puat Hospital are already printing food for the elderly and frail patients who struggle with swallowing food. Meals include sweet potatoes, pollack, green peas, and even liquids, such as milk. They aim to produce 3D printed chicken next.\u00a0However, a team of Year 4 Food Technology students, Loh Hui Lin, Seah Xin Hui, Tan Kai Chin, Cassandra Toh, and Vivian Chua Zi Xuan from Singapore Institute of Technology, have developed puree in the form of chicken, rice, and broccoli. The students designed the packaging for the food themselves, too. They packed the puree into single perforated packaging, which is also reusable as a refillable piping bag for the 3D printer cartridges.\u00a0Positive feedback from elderlyThe food received positive feedback from the elderly at Fei Yue Retirees Centre.\u00a0\u201cWe started off by brainstorming product concept, generating designs to be printed, formulating our products, and conducting sensory testing with the elderly in Fei Yue Retirees Centre to understand their acceptability towards this new idea,\u201d said Hui Lin.\u201cEating fundamentally brings a lot of joy to people and it\u2019s a pity when our elders cannot experience that when they have swallowing difficulties. While we are excited to have come up with an innovative solution, what really matters is that we are potentially improving the nutrition and the eating experience for our seniors. We are happy that our Asian chicken rice have received positive feedback.\u201d\u00a0Limited capabilityDespite the advances in the local industry, 3D food printing still has its limits. The range of food that can be printed is small, with scalability being an issue as well. Currently, it may take about 30 to 45 minutes to print out a single crab claw. Hence, there are constraints when it comes to providing for a large scale of people. Food safety regulations is also another issue, as there is currently no safe limit or rules.\u00a0"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Destinations","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Singapore","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/\/singapore\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"3D Printed Food Can Help the Elderly","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/3d-printed-food-can-help-the-elderly\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]