3D Printed Bacon Is Hitting European Supermarkets
Plant-based products are revolutionizing the food industry. Already, in many European countries especially, a wide range of these foods are now available in supermarkets and people see them as a healthy alternative to eating meat in large quantities. It is even possible to find plant-based tuna, salmon or pork, which are very similar in taste and texture to the animal models they are modeled on. This trend is also present in Spain. There, the companies Cocuus and Foodys are continuously promoting the consumption of meat alternatives and are pioneers in the Spanish market for plant-based products as an alternative to meat. Now they are attracting attention with 3D printed bacon.
In recent years, Foodys has launched products such as burgers and nuggets made from plants in an attempt to imitate the original food model. The basic idea is to create an alternative to meat in order to promote sustainability. At Foodys, all products are plant-based, but at Cocuus this does not apply to all products. For its part, the company works with 3D printing in four different areas, from 3D printing meat from plants, cells or the meat itself to what they call “softmimic”, i.e. purées that resemble real food. Thanks to the combination of these different areas, it was possible to produce 3D-printed bacon.
A photo to commemorate the start of the project between Foodys and Cocuus (photo credits: Foodys and Cocuus)
The two companies started this joint project a few months ago with the intention of building the world’s first large-scale plant-based 3D printed organic food facility. Companies such as REVO FOODS also produce 3D printed plant-based foods on a large scale, but do not have a production facility like Cocuus and Foodys. Thanks to this project, one thing has become clear: The production of 3D-printed bacon requires fewer resources and causes less pollution. “We are able to reproduce in five minutes the bacon that two pigs produce in a lifetime,” says Cocuus.
What Is 3D Printed Bacon?
You may be wondering what the difference is between regular bacon and Cocuus and Foodys bacon, apart from the fact that the latter comes from plants and the other from an animal. We all know that bacon is a rather fatty food that is not conducive to good health, just take the example of Homer Simpson. Cocuus and Foodys’ plant-based bacon is 3D printed, which allows a healthier base material to be used, which is then printed into the shape of the bacon. This base material contains only a third of the fat content of the original bacon. What’s more, the fat it contains is unsaturated fatty acids, which are better for your health than the saturated fats in pork fat.
The 3D printed bacon from Foodys and Cocuus is not only healthier than the animal-based original because it is plant-based (photo credits: Foodys and Cocuus)
The 3D printed bacon owes its exceptional properties to the ingredients from which it is made, such as olive oil, apples and carrots. This is why this bacon from the printer is a healthy alternative to original bacon from animals. The product is therefore not only aimed at vegans or vegetarians, but is also intended to show people who want to eat healthier new ways and make it easier to start a healthier lifestyle. For true bacon lovers, however, the health benefits are not yet a decisive argument for embracing the alternative. That’s why Cocuus and Foodys have gone to great lengths to mimic both the texture and taste of real bacon as closely as possible.
The 3D-printed bacon has recently become available in Spanish supermarkets, particularly in Carrefour supermarkets in various parts of Spain. Both companies are now trying to develop new plant-based foods such as tuna or seafood in order to create a wide offer and attract new customers. We will soon see if this new product is well received in the market or if the Spanish public is not yet ready for this change. Will you take the opportunity to try the 3D-printed bacon on your next vacation to Mallorca?
3D-printed bacon is making its way onto the shelves of Spanish supermarkets (photo credits: Carrefour)
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*Cover Photo Credits: Foodys and Cocuus
