UK Care Homes Test 3D Printed Meals to Combat Malnutrition in Elderly

A UK care provider is testing whether 3D printed food could help combat malnutrition among elderly residents with swallowing difficulties.

Spellman Care has partnered with the University of Leeds and PRINTFOODS UK in a collaborative study exploring how additive manufacturing could transform texture-modified diets for people with dysphagia.

The Problem: When Every Meal Feels Like Punishment

For the 1.3 million people aged 65+ in the UK at risk of malnutrition, mealtimes can become a daily struggle. Those with dysphagia — a condition affecting the ability to swallow — are often served mashed or pureed foods that, while safer, frequently lose their visual appeal and nutritional density.

"Imagine reaching the final chapter of your life, where every meal feels like punishment — shapeless, tasteless, and stripped of dignity," said Steffen Hirth, Research Fellow in Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems at the University of Leeds. "This is the daily reality for thousands of older British adults who are on texture-modified foods."

Research shows that malnutrition affects roughly 50% of care home residents — a crisis that 3D printing could help address.

How 3D Printing Could Help

Unlike traditional moulds, 3D food printing allows for precise control over food shape, texture, and nutritional content. The technology can create realistic-looking food that meets International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) requirements while maintaining better nutritional density.

"We are developing 3D-printed foods that can make food safe, nutritious and joyful again," Hirth explained.

Head chefs from Spellman Care's homes — Luke Moorhouse, Craig McCarthy, Trevor Aebi, and Eve Kelk — participated in the study, providing feedback on how 3D printing could work in real-world care environments:

"The potential for 3D printing to provide consistent, nutrient-dense, and highly realistic food shapes is incredibly exciting. It ensures the tech is practical, not just innovative."

What's Next

Representatives from Spellman Care will travel to the University of Leeds in the coming weeks to trial 3D-printed food prototypes first-hand.

"By sharing our frontline expertise, we are helping to ensure the final results are perfectly tailored to the unique needs of the care industry," said Philippa Young, Spellman Care's operations manager. "We are committed to embracing innovation that enhances the quality of life for our residents."