3D printing is becoming more and more popular. We are now able to print things such as clothing, musical instruments and model cars. 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 create a new dining experience by doing this. They hope that having a 3D printer in the kitchen will become as common as the microwave or the fridge. Scientists say that they are easy to use: you simply have to choose what you want to eat and put the uncooked 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 tasty and healthy meals.
Using 3D printers to create your meals would also be saving the environment. There would be less need for traditional growing and transporting as food production would be much simpler. Printing food could also help people who are experiencing the swallowing disorder. They could make the printer to print softer foods so that they would not have trouble swallowing them.
However, some people think that a future of 3D-printed food would cause many problems. It could take away many jobs, including those for growing and transporting food. Likewise, traditional cafés and restaurants might lose business. Also, people are worrying about whether the printed food is nutritious: Is it really possible to get the nutrients we need from foodbased inks? 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 pastime of cooking is dead and meals can be created at the touch of a button.
