MIT’s Non-Stick Coating Keeps Ketchup Flowing • Hacker News Board

Re: MIT’s Non-Stick Coating Keeps Ketchup Flowing

#51

Post by Tsagadai » Wed, May 23, 2012, 4:21 AM UTC

kondro wrote: post #42

mikeknoop wrote: post #19

> "We had a limited amount of materials to pick from," Smith says. "I can’t say what they are, but we’ve patented the hell out of it." Wait wait wait, someone needs to explain to them what the intent of a patent actually is.

I'm sure they've used some unique combination, treatment and application of those materials to create this effect.

Given the number of patents in existence at the moment and the complex wording, if someone didn't tell you what something was called you probably wouldn't be able to find their patent. Security through obscurity.

Re: MIT’s Non-Stick Coating Keeps Ketchup Flowing

#52

Post by loverobots » Wed, May 23, 2012, 4:25 AM UTC

In a weird sense, ketchup and food companies may want you to throw out your bottle with a food left and buy a new one. Unless this method is seen as a competitive advantage.

Re: MIT’s Non-Stick Coating Keeps Ketchup Flowing

#53

Post by ericclemmons » Wed, May 23, 2012, 5:01 AM UTC

moocow01 wrote: post #33

Hmm I wonder if in the case of ketchup/condiments this will initially be less successful than we think. Your going to have to get consumers to learn to not accidentally dump half the bottle out when turning it over and shaking it like you would with today's ketchup. This sounds easy but think of all the elderly folks eating at their favorite local diner. I think the challenge may actually be in making it less slipper…

Leave that to marketing :) "Heinz Quick-Flow Bottle" or similarly ludicrous name...

Re: MIT’s Non-Stick Coating Keeps Ketchup Flowing

#54

Post by quadrahelix » Wed, May 23, 2012, 5:22 AM UTC

Surprised no one mentioned NeverWet.

Seems like they just coated the inside of the bottle with this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7is6r6zXFDc

Edit: Someone mentioned NeverWet. Never mind.

Re: MIT’s Non-Stick Coating Keeps Ketchup Flowing

#55

Post by baseh » Wed, May 23, 2012, 5:29 AM UTC

yay more ketchup on my fries, while i forego the only exercise I get, which is hitting and shaking the ketchup bottle

Re: MIT’s Non-Stick Coating Keeps Ketchup Flowing

#56

Post by baddox » Wed, May 23, 2012, 5:32 AM UTC

gamache wrote: post #9

Perhaps this is ignorance, but I do not want this anywhere near my food. The FDA's said a lot of things are non-toxic over the years.

Out of curiosity, what criteria do you use to determine which food products are probably safe for your consumption? Do you do research yourself, or is there another source of research you consult?

Re: MIT’s Non-Stick Coating Keeps Ketchup Flowing

#57

Post by rytis » Wed, May 23, 2012, 5:36 AM UTC

Alex3917 wrote: post #11

gamache wrote: post #9

Perhaps this is ignorance, but I do not want this anywhere near my food. The FDA's said a lot of things are non-toxic over the years.

Knowing they FDA, they'll just ban companies from telling consumers whether or not it's in their products. Because if it's a medicine you might actually want to use, it's illegal unless you have $100 million dollars to pay for testing. But if it's something that can make food corporations money, not only doesn't it need to be tested but it's illegal for you to even know if you're eating it.

So this is never going to fly then. Why would a food company use this coating at all? It's not in their interest - wasted food means more money for the company.

Re: MIT’s Non-Stick Coating Keeps Ketchup Flowing

#58

Post by zizee » Wed, May 23, 2012, 5:44 AM UTC

rohansingh wrote: post #27

gamache wrote: post #9

Perhaps this is ignorance, but I do not want this anywhere near my food. The FDA's said a lot of things are non-toxic over the years.

This was posted in the comments section of the article: >I'm Dave Smith, and I just want to clarify that we make the coating from materials that are not just FDA approved, but that we actually eat on a regular basis in much larger quantities than could possibly be released from the coating.

It sort of looks like the bottle has been coated on the inside with oil.

Because of the chemical similarities between oil and plastics, oil really sticks to plastic, creating a hard to remove oily coating on plastic surfaces. You really notice this effect if you have the joy of having to hand wash a plastic mixing bowl that has had oil in it.

I wonder if something similar is going on here? If they are eating this stuff already is the magic ingredient simply an edible oil?

[edit] readability.

Re: MIT’s Non-Stick Coating Keeps Ketchup Flowing

#59

Post by chad_oliver » Wed, May 23, 2012, 5:45 AM UTC

DanI-S wrote: post #13

I wonder if they've tried painting this stuff on the underside of a boat?

Or, you know, use wax. The primary development here is creating something that can be approved by the FDA.

Re: MIT’s Non-Stick Coating Keeps Ketchup Flowing

#60

Post by kijin » Wed, May 23, 2012, 5:51 AM UTC

rytis wrote: post #57

Alex3917 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Knowing they FDA, they'll just ban companies from telling consumers whether or not it's in their products. Because if it's a medicine you might actually want to use, it's illegal unless you have $100 million dollars to pay for testing. But if it's something that can make food corporations money, not only doesn't it need to be tested but it's illegal for you to even know if you're eating it.

So this is never going to fly then. Why would a food company use this coating at all? It's not in their interest - wasted food means more money for the company.

That was my first thought, too. A million tons of food saved = a million tons of food unsold.

Unless, of course, the bottles are so slippery that people inadvertently pour a lot more ketchup than they used to. That would be a million tons of food wasted = more money for Heinz.