Browsing by Subject "3D printed food"

Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is a common condition in the elderly population that can lead to malnutrition and other health complications. Texture-modified food (TMF) has traditionally been used to address this issue, but they often lack the visual appeal and variety of regular food, which can impact the quality of life of individuals with dysphagia. 3D food printing technology offers a promising solution by allowing for the creation of customised and visually appealing food with modified textures, shapes, flavours and nutrient contents. In addition, fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake of individuals in residential aged care facilities (RACF) is considerably low, hence innovative solutions such as 3D food printing technology has potential to address some of these challenges and improve the provision of nutrient-dense foods in aged care settings. This report investigates the provision and consumption of F&V-based TM and 3D printed foods in RACF. The report explores 1) TMF provision and consumption in Australian RACF by a quantitative data analysis of food consumption data, 2) barriers and enablers in the current TMF provision and consumption while exploring the potential of 3D food printing to be an answer for better nutrition among residents, 3) the sensory acceptance of 3D printed food among RACF staff members and 4) modelling the use of 3D printed food in a current TM menu. The results of the study suggest that F&V consumption of RACF residents is below recommendations, although the intake is still considered adequate on average. The provision and consumption of F&V-based food were spread throughout the day, although there was great between-meal variation. The average total provision of vegetables, fruit and juice were 4.1, 0.7 and 1.2 respectively, whereas consumed amounts were lower: 3.6, 0.6 and 1.1 respectively. Interviewees disclosed 3D printed food to be acceptable, albeit there are multiple barriers for its implementation. 3D printed food has the potential to provide benefits for residents on a TM diet in RACF but was not considered timely or practical for the moment. In particular, 3D printed food was considered to be a promising technology to address the emerging challenges that aged care sector will face in the next decades, however, the technology and its implementation still require development and planning. Menu modelling demonstrated how easily F&V intake can be altered, yet its impact on the intake of nutrients need to be further researched. The study highlights that further research and development are needed to improve technical feasibility and practicality of 3D food printing in aged care settings. Overall, while F&V-based 3D printed food has potential benefits, there are significant challenges that need to be addressed before this technology can be widely adopted in RACF, and for it to be beneficial for the nutritional intake and quality of life of the residents.