A team of researchers has developed a way to print edible holograms onto food using lasers and corn syrup, a process that could someday be used to reduce packaging needs if labels and nutrition information could be printed directly on the food item.

Holographic chocolate is already common among chocolatiers wanting to make an aesthetic impact. The process works by molding edible holograms onto the surface of the chocolate, imprinting patterns that cause light to diffract into the classic rainbow pattern. However, this process works only for certain types of chocolate, and traditional holograms – imprinting on metal surfaces – requires a volume of metal that renders food inedible.

Instead researchers looked to find a safe, fast and versatile way to print edible holograms on all kinds of foods.

The researchers developed a method involving a thin film of dried corn syrup, vanilla and water, which they then coated with a layer of black dye. Most of this dye was etched off using lasers, leaving behind raised lines of dye on the film. When struck by light, these lines diffracted the light into the rainbow pattern, with different colors appearing at different angles. The team members found they could control the intensity and range of colors by varying the pattern etched into the dye or by changing the sugar content of the corn syrup film.

The research team will now adapt the method to a food-grade dye that could replace the black dye used in these experiments so that holographic food can become a staple on the shelves.

The work was published in American Chemical Society Nano and funded by Khalifa University, Sandooq Al Watan, Aldar Properties and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.