3D printing is becoming more and more popular. We are now able to print things such as clothing, prosthetic limbs (假肢), musical instruments(乐器) and so on. People and businesses are able to create the things they need very quickly and easily using 3D printers.
But can you imagine printing food? Some scientists are trying to revolutionize our eating experience by doing this. They hope that having a 3D printer in the kitchen will become as usual as the microwave or blender. Scientists say that they are easy to use: you simply have to choose a recipe and put the food "inks" into the printer. You can also change the instructions to make the food exactly how you want it. This means that it would be very quick and easy to create delicious meals.
Using 3D printers to create your meals would also be saving the environment. There would be less need for traditional growing, transporting(运输) and packaging as food production would be quicker and easier.
Printing food could also help people who suffer from dysphasia (吞咽障碍症). They could program (为…编程) the printer to print softer versions of their favorite foods so that they would not have trouble eating them.
However, some people think that the future of 3D-printed food would be a disaster. It could take away many jobs, including those for growing, transporting and packaging food. Imagine a world where there was no need for farming or growing crops and the same tastes could be printed from a raw "food ink". Similarly, traditional cafes and restaurants might lose business. Also, there are worries about the printed food: is it really possible to get the nutrients (营养物) we need from food-based inks and gels?
What's more, cooking and eating together with family and friends has long been a traditional and enjoyable activity. It is hard to imagine a world where the fun of cooking is dead and meals can be done at the touch of a button.
