A group of chemical and biomolecular engineering students at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore has created an edible tape to keep burritos sealed while cooking.
Inspired by their experiences with messy lunches, the students created Tastee Tape, an edible adhesive comprised of a food-grade fibrous scaffold and an organic adhesive that ensures the ingredients in your favourite wrap are kept tucked tightly inside during cooking and consumption.
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‘First, we learned about the science around tape and different adhesives, and then we worked to find edible counterparts,’ said Tyler Guarino, who worked with fellow engineering students Marie Eric, Rachel Nie and Erin Walsh on the project.
The team tested a ‘multitude’ of ingredients and combinations before settling on a final recipe that’s edible, safe and has the tensile strength to hold together a fat burrito or other ‘wrapped’ foodstuff.
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Because they are applying for a patent, the team members aren’t keen to disclose their secret formula. ‘What I can say is that all its ingredients are safe to consume, are food grade and are common food and dietary additives,’ Guarino said.
The team spent several months prototyping before eventually landing on rectangular strips that measure about 1.3 centimetres by five centimetres and come affixed to sheets of waxed paper. To use, a strip is simply removed from the sheet, wet thoroughly to activate and applied to the burrito.
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The team members put their invention to the test on ‘too many burritos to count’ and are confident in the quality of their product. ‘Tastee Tape allows you to put full faith in your tortilla and enjoy your meal, mess-free,’ Guarino said.