3-D Printing Expands to the Meat/Restaurant Industry
Source：3D printing
From：Taiwan Trade Center Chicago
Update Time：2020/08/06
3-D printing, which has innovated the manufacturing industry, may also shape the food and restaurant industry. Redefine Meat, a 3-D food printing company, has finally released its first meat printed from a 3-D printer. The company is focused on vegetarian meat, and the 3-D food product is entirely plant-based. The startup created a new technology to produce the meat, and now that it is launched, the company will start testing the product on restaurant menus in late 2020. However, full market availability will begin in 2021.
The CEO and Co-Founder of Redefine Meat said that this has been a goal of their company ever since its founding. Recognizing that steak was a staple of the meat industry and wouldn’t be easily replaced, the company knew they had to not only make the product, but make it equally as tasty and nutritionally equivalent. To do this, Redefine Meat collaborated with scientists and food specialists such as butchers and chefs. They had over 70 qualifications regarding taste for the product such as how fatty it is, texture, and the amount of juice. The final product has zero cholesterol and is still high in protein, like a beef steak. The CEO acknowledges that, though these details seem small, they cannot be overlooked because the product needs to be able to replace animal-beef, not simply be a quasi-alternative.
The CEO emphasized the importance, not merely for innovation’s sake, but for the sustainability and prolonged growth of the Earth. Recognizing the ethical implications of the meat industry, a sustainable replacement is desperately needed to curb carbon emissions and environmental consequences. In addition, the 3-D printed meat will still be cheaper than a beef steak, which is all the more incentive for customers to switch. The CEO finished his statement by further emphasizing the need for sustainable meats to hopefully decrease demand for the meat industry and curb its production.
Redefine Meat is not the only one testing this innovation. Scientists in Sydney have also started creating 3-D printed meals. These researchers state that these meals are actually safer to eat as well, as they reduce the risk of choking due to the way they formulate the ink and then puree the food once it is printed.
Source：https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/redefine-meat-unveils-its-first-3d-printed-vegan-steak-product-alt-steak-173040/