If you’re not Darryn, chances are you have decent food tastes and are not a fan of KFC. Yes, while their original recipe chicken may be “finger-licking good”, they are also so incredibly fatty and oily. To many a food connoisseur, the thought of eating their processed chicken can lead to them filling the nearest toilet bowl with regret.
Well, prepare to possibly dunk on their chicken even more as the company has announced an attempt to create the world’s first laboratory-produced chicken nuggets, part of its “restaurant of the future” concept. The chicken restaurant chain will work with Russian company 3D Bioprinting Solutions to develop bioprinting technology that will “print” chicken meat, using chicken cells and plant material. Yeah, that just sounds gross.
3D bioprinting technologies, initially widely recognized in medicine, are nowadays gaining popularity in producing foods such as meat. In the future, the rapid development of such technologies will allow us to make 3D-printed meat products more accessible and we are hoping that the technology created as a result of our cooperation with KFC will help accelerate the launch of cell-based meat products on the market
Interestingly, bioprinted nuggets would be more environmentally friendly to produce than standard chicken meat according to a study by the American Environmental Science and Technology Journal, as it uses significantly fewer greenhouse emissions than traditional chicken farming. Though, I’d imagine for many people looking to actually eat “chicken”, that would be the least of their problems.
KFC plans to have its bio-printed nuggets ready for final testing in Moscow later this year, though it will be interesting to see if there is any uptake on the concept or not. Mind you, if KFC fans can stomach those dunked wings, they could probably stomach anything.
Oh, and for the record, these 3D bio-printed nuggets are made with animal cells and so therefore, are not vegetarian or vegan friendly.
Last Updated: July 20, 2020
Umar
July 20, 2020 at 14:13
As long as it comes with bbq sauce I’ll eat em
Llama In The Rift
July 20, 2020 at 14:28
If you’ve played Abe’s Oddysee you know where this is going, no thanks, plus….EWW.
justlikemo
July 20, 2020 at 15:13
so are they gonna do another name change, KPC, Kentucky Printed Chieckan
Lu
July 20, 2020 at 15:20
Really interested in the food printing tech. Though that would kill the delivery industry if I can order direct to printer.
Llama In The Rift
July 20, 2020 at 15:20
Cartridge monopoly all over again
Lu
July 20, 2020 at 15:30
Haha we’re still far from it, but I was thinking more along the lines of single (or pack purchased) “slices”, and the your printer unit has all the required base goop to make the meal.
So if I want my nugs, purchase a single print from the chosen store and the printer does the rest.
The concept is really intriguing. Like downloading pirated rocomomas and getting a spur charcoal burger 😀
Llama In The Rift
July 20, 2020 at 16:19
I LOLed at the pirate part… XD
Lu
July 20, 2020 at 16:52
I totally see it happening
Plague Doctor Who
July 20, 2020 at 22:26
Food printers already exist
For example I’ve seen a working cake printer that does half decent cakes.
The additive engineering field is become much more diversified with techniques and technology. I have a few 3D printers at home, and work I manage.. it’s not quite ready for “plug n’ play” for consumers, but it’s exciting what you can do if you have some comprehension behind the hardware.
Lu
July 21, 2020 at 07:40
Yeah I have an sla and fdm printer at home too, so the concept is’t too difficult to grasp. With the new slicers it nearly is plug and play hey, and can still improve.
Very exciting prospects!
Pieter Kruger
July 20, 2020 at 15:30
Yeah real replicator food, I’m in!
Original Heretic
July 20, 2020 at 16:31
They could viably use any animal protein for this.
Oh yay! Dunked cockroach!
Guz
July 20, 2020 at 18:10
No , just no…….