During a visit to one of the healthcare centers in the Netherlands, Peter Nieuwkerk was made aware of the possibility of using the 3D printing technique to print food. And specifically with a very rewarding goal: to present vegetables and potato products, made from fresh vegetables, in their original form and in the right consistency for people with chewing and swallowing problems. An extremely difficult process that requires a lot of patience, but with a great potential: making tasty and healthy food available to people with chewing and swallowing problems. That visit was the start of Gastronology: gastronomy based on a new technology. No sales of 3D printers, no difficult-to-operate printers within healthcare centers and hospitals, but the aim to supply ready-to-use 3D printed frozen food products, produced on an industrial scale at affordable prices. The 3D printed frozen food products only need to be warmed up on location. The start of a dream, which was to become reality!
On May 28 and 29, Gastronology's external manufacturer Budelfood will be present at the PLMA, the world's largest private label show for food, among others. Dysphalicious products are 3D printed and produced on industrial scale and can be seen live at the show. For many brand owners, this is the signal that the market for 3D printed food really has begun.
Budelfood - as one of the first companies in the world -started the industrial production of 3D printed food products, which are marketed by its client Gastronology under the name ‘ Dysphalicious ’. In recent years, the company has conducted intensive research into the composition and application of 3D food products and into the technology to produce on an industrial scale using 3D food printers. Gastronology's 3D food products are primarily intended for people with chewing and swallowing problems, which manifests itself, among other things, as a result of old age or with certain conditions such as ALS, MS or Huntington. The first production batches are delivered to the healthcare centers and hospitals to they can gain experience in how to use Gastronology's 3D food products in the coming six months.
After an intensive period of preparation of almost 5 years with client Gastronology, and after a period of testing individual parts of the production line, Budelfood has now started ‘integral’ testing of world's first industrial 3D food printing line. The aim is to align the equipment in the various steps of the production process as well as to test the quality procedures.
The different steps in the production process are: processing (cooking-mixing process of vegetable and mashed potatoes), industrial 3D food printing, shock-freezing and packaging.
