Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Printing on Food or Food Printing: a Review

  • Review
  • Published:
Food and Bioprocess Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The processes of printing foodstuffs or imaging on an unconventional surface deserve extra attention in comparison with conventional techniques especially in relation with the substrate interested that will or should say a lot about the concept behind the design. Indeed, while printing on food, designers are required to consider carefully both, the appropriate edible inks and the production processes. Moreover, printing on food packaging requires almost as much care. However, the concept of food printing represents nowadays a new frontier in food processing and industry to realize new food products of complex shapes and colour and with particular mixtures. At the moment, many current research projects and products related to food printing are being developed. In 2011, a European Cooperation in Science and Technology action named “New possibilities for print media and packaging, combining print with digital” was created with the aim to promote an interdisciplinary interaction among European research partner with several different research backgrounds. Among the aims of the project, a crucial aspect regards the combination of food expertise with printing using new technologies in order to print on food or food printing. In light of this scenario, image processing and machine control occupy a very important part of the research: a number of programs were written or modified as part of the research into food printing. This review aims to produce an updated analysis on the current developments regarding the technology for food printing and printing on food. In this sense, the work starts giving an overview of the 2D and three-dimensional (3D) printer technology and moves on the food media, edible substrate used by 3D printers and a print of food chapter, related to the substrates used by the 2D printers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Batchelder, J. S. (2012). Additive manufacturing system and method with interchangeable cartridges for printing customized chocolate confections. US Patent 13,432,431.

  • Ben-Yoseph, E., Collins, T. M., Shastry, A. V., Suttle, J. M., Walters, M., & Willcocks, N. A. (2009). US Patent 7,597,752.

  • Bocusini. http://www.bocusini.com/. Accessed December 2015.

  • Burritobot (2014). A 3-D printer that spits out burritos. http://www.fastcodesign.com/1670070/burritobot-a-3-d-printer-that-spits-out-burritos. Accessed December 2015.

  • Castle, L., Mayo, A., & Gilbert, J. (1989). Migration of plasticizers from printing inks into foods. Food Additives & Contaminants, 6(4), 437–443.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chocedge Ltd (2015). http://www.chocedge.com. Accessed June 2015.

  • Citronix Inc., http://www.citronix.com/. Accessed June 2015.

  • Cohen, D. L., Lipton, J., Cutler, M., Coulter, D., Vesco, A., & Lipson, H. (2009). Hydrocolloid printing: a novel platform for customized food production. Austin, TX, USA: Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium (SFF’09).

    Google Scholar 

  • Deco Enterprises Ltd (2015). http://deco.uk.com/edible-artist-cake-decorating-software/. Accessed December 2015.

  • Des Aufsatzes, V., Gebhardt, A., & Fateri, M. (2013). 3D printing and its applications. http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Miranda_Fateri/publication/267433899_3D_printing_and_its_applications/links/544f87cc0cf26dda0891cc90.pdf. Accessed June 2015.

  • Domino Printing Sciences plc, http://www.domino-printing.com/Global/en/Home.aspx. Accessed June 2015.

  • Dotjet Inc., http://www.everdotjet.com/aboutus_en.html. Accessed June 2015.

  • Eliav, E., Lavie, D., & Magdasi, S. (2008). Coffee-based printing ink for food use. Patent WO 2008/047347, 24.4.2008. Yissum Research Development Company of Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel), Steam Coffee Culture Ltd.

  • Fab@Home project (2015). http://www.fabathome.org/index.php?q=node/2. Accessed June 2015.

  • Fell, D. A. (1979). Videojet ink for printing on food products. US Patent 4,168,662.

  • Figge, K. (1996). Plastic packages for foodstuffs (Stuttgart: Wissenschaftliche). http://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=US201300299104. Accessed June 2015.

  • Fork, D. K., & Hantschel, T. (2010). US Patent 7,765,949.

  • Fujifilm Corporation (2015). http://www.fujifilmusa.com/products/industrial_inkjet_printheads/index.html. Accessed June 2015.

  • Furuno, H., & Nishida, A. (2011). Edible ink-jet printing inks containing ethanol, water, and glycerine and oily confectionery printed with them. Patent JP2010/185030. Japan: Toyo Ink Mfg., Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodall, L., & Ceurstemont, S. (2006). Futuristic Food. http://www.firstscience.com/SITE/ARTICLES/food.asp. Accessed June 2015.

  • Goyanes, A., Robles Martinez, P., Buanz, A., Basit, A. W., & Gaisford, S. (2015). Effect of geometry on drug release from 3D printed tablets. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 494(2), 657–663.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hakola, L., Hartman, J., Honkapää, K., Laakso, P., Penttilä, R., Pitkänen, M., Rusko, E., Sipiläinen-Malm, T., & Vanttaja, I. (2013). New methods for improving food product safety and communication. Conference proceedings. NIP29, 498–502.

  • Hakola, L., Honkapää, K., Penttilä, R., Vanttaja, I. (2012) Improving product safety in medical and food industry by using direct marking technologies—final report. VTT-CR-05142-12, Espoo, Finland, 2012. 6 pages + app. 129 pages.

  • Gateway Technology Industry Co. Ltd. http://www.gatewayuvprinter.com/goods/edible-food-ink-11.html. Accessed December 2015.

  • Hakola, L.; Sipiläinen-Malm, T.; Alakomi, H-L. (2015) Enhancing product security by using direct marking and QR codes. Conference proceedings. 42nd International Iarigai conference (2015).

  • Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., http://www8.hp.com/fi/fi/home.html. Accessed June 2015.

  • Huang, B. Q., Sun, J. M., Wei, X. F., & Yi, Q. (2014). Research on edible inkjet ink. Applied Mechanics and Materials, 469, 74–80.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hypersonic Studio, http://www.hypersonic.cc/projects/baristabot/. Accessed December 2015.

  • Inkedibles ™, https://www.inkedibles.com/. Accessed December 2015.

  • Leibinger Group, http://leibinger-group.com/en/. Accessed June 2015.

  • Lin, C. (2015). 3D food printing: a taste of the future. Journal of Food Science Education, 14(3), 86–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linx Printing Technologies, http://www.linxglobal.com/en-gb. Accessed June 2015.

  • Lipton, J. I., Arnold, D., Nigl, F., Lopez, N., Cohen, D. L., Norén, N., & Lipson, H. (2010). Multi-material food printing with complex internal structure suitable for conventional post-processing. Austin Tx, USA: 21st Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium (SFF’10).

    Google Scholar 

  • MapleJet Co., http://www.maplejet.com/. Accessed June 2015.

  • Markem-Imaje, http://www.markem-imaje.com/. Accessed June 2015.

  • Matthews Marking Systems, http://www.matthewsmarking.com/. Accessed June 2015.

  • Millen, C. I. (2012). The development of colour 3D food printing system: a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Mechatronics at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand (Doctoral dissertation).

  • Nishida, A., Hashizume, Y., Yosuke, Y., & Kono, H. (2011a). Storage-stable edible ink-jet inks containing gardenia blue pigment, their manufacture, and ink-jet printed matter. Patent JP2010/215687. Japan: Toyo Ink Mfg., Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishida, A., Hashizume, Y., Yosuke, Y., & Kono, H. (2011b). Storage-stable edible ink-jet inks containing Monascus red pigment and their manufacture method. Patent JP2010/248440. Japan: Toyo Ink Mfg., Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishida, A., Hashizume, Y., Yosuke, Y., & Kono, H. (2011c). Storage-stable edible ink-jet inks containing Gardenia yellow pigment and their manufacture method. Patent JP2010/248441. Japan: Toyo Ink Mfg., Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Periard, D., Schaal, N., Schaal, M., Malone, E., & Lipson H. (2007). Printing food. Proceedings of the 18th Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium, Austin TX, Aug 2007, 564–574.

  • RN Mark Inc. (2015), http://rnmark.com/. Accessed June 2015.

  • Shastry, A. V., Ben-Yoseph, E., & Collins, T. M. (2006). US Patent 7,029,112.

  • Smith, D. J. (2007). Fruit food snack product with edible ink labels and apparatus for and methods of preparation. US Patent 0292573. USA: General Mills, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soares S. (2011). http://www.susanasoares.com/index.php?id=79. Accessed December 2015.

  • Sun, J., Peng, Z., Yan, L., Fuh, J. Y. H., & Hong, G. S. (2015a). 3D food printing—an innovative way of mass customization in food fabrication. International Journal of Bioprinting, 1.

  • Sun, J., Peng, Z., Zhou, W., Fuh, J. Y., Hong, G. S., & Chiu, A. (2015b). A review on 3D printing for customized food fabrication. Procedia Manufacturing, 1, 308–319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun, J., Zhou, W., Huang, D., Fuh, J. Y., & Hong, G. S. (2015c). An overview of 3D printing technologies for food fabrication. Food and Bioprocess Technology, 1–11.

  • Tobita, T., & Tanisawa, T. (2009). Oily confectionary with ink-jet printed images and their manufacture. Patent JP2009/000095. Sanryu K. K. (Japan). Japan: Tanizawa Kaki Kogyo Co., Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ventola, C. L. (2014). Medical applications for 3D printing: current and projected uses. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 39(10), 704.

    Google Scholar 

  • Von Hasseln, K. W. (2011) Apparatus and method for producing a three-dimensional food product. US Patent 13,196,859.

  • Wen, L., Henry, W. J., & Swaine, R. L. (2008). Flavor application on edible substrates. US Patent 0075830. USA: The Procter & Gamble Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • William Reed Business Media. (2012). Innovations in food processing and packaging Newsletter, 23.5-6.6.2012.

  • Xu., D. (2011). Edible ink for ink-jet printing on chocolate. Patent WO2011/128160. Unilever PLC (UK), Unilever N.V., Hindustan Unilever Limited.

  • Yam, K. L., & Papadakis, S. E. (2004). A simple digital imaging method for measuring and analyzing color of food surfaces. Journal of Food Engineering, 61(1), 137–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young, R. J. (2000). Machine and method for printing on surfaces of edible substrates. US Patent 6,058,843.

Download references

Acknowledgments

This publication benefits from participation in the COST action FP-1104 “New possibilities for print media and packaging—combining print with digital”.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria (CREA), Unità di ricerca per l’ingegneria agraria, Via della Pascolare 16, 00015, Monterotondo scalo, Rome, Italy

    F. Pallottino, C. Costa, F. Antonucci, S. Figorilli & P. Menesatti

  2. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Tietotie 3, P.O. Box 1000, 02044 VTT, Espoo, Finland

    L. Hakola & A. Seisto

Authors
  1. F. Pallottino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. Hakola
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. Costa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. F. Antonucci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. S. Figorilli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. A. Seisto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. P. Menesatti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Costa.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pallottino, F., Hakola, L., Costa, C. et al. Printing on Food or Food Printing: a Review. Food Bioprocess Technol 9, 725–733 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11947-016-1692-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11947-016-1692-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation