Week 1 HW: Principles and Practices
Week 1 assigment Valeria Quesada Ortega - Sj, Costa Rica.
Project.
Development of a bioengineered gastronomic powder designed to create a multisensory dining experience without modifying the original ingredients.
the powder will consist of edible microcapsules made from food grade biopolymers that will remain stable during plating but dissolve when exposed to the normal pH of human saliva. Upon dissolution, the microcapsules will release microbursts with encapsulated umami compounds, such as glutamate extracts from algae or fermented foods.
The goal of this gastronomic tech is not to correct poor cooking or override a chef’s creativity, but rather provide a precise finishing tool that amplifies the final sensory moment of a dish.
Governance
Primary governance goal
To ensure the bioengineered gastronomic experiences are safe, transparent and ethically deployed, while supporting creative culinary use.
Sub-goals Prevent physiological harm to consumers Ensure that the bioactive components do not accumulate or cause unwanted biological effects after consumption. Promote informed consumer Guarantee that consumers are aware they are consuming a bioengineered, interactive food component. Avoid unnecessary barriers to culinary innovation Ensure that governance measures do not disproportionately restrict chiefs and new culinary researchers.
Governance actions
Mandatory post consumptions biochemical deactivation.
Purpose
Currently, there is no standard requirement ensuring that bioactive food
components deactivate after ingestion. This actions proposes requiring
that the powder’s microcapsules re;iably deactivate once exposed to
salivary pH.
Design
We must incorporate a validated biochemical off switch (pH sensitive
biopolymer dissolution). Regulatory agencies would require
evidence of deactivations as part of food safety approval.
Assumptions
This assumes that salivary pH is likely consistent across individuals an
that deactivation mechanisms function reliably in diverse conditions.
Risks of failure and “success”
Failure would result in prolonged bioactivity or consumer harm, and even
successful implementation could limit certain experimental designs or
increase development costs.
Pre-market evaluation of sensory and metabolic safety.
Purpose
Gourmet food additives are not routinely assessed for individualized
biological interactions. This action proposes targeted safety testing
for bioengineered sensory .
Design
Independent labs would conduct standardized tests assessing metabolic
safety allergenicity, and sensory interaction. Approval would be required
prior to commercial use.
Assumptions
This assumes labs testing accurately represents experiences and population
diversity.
Risks of failure and “success”
Over-standarizations could reduce creative experimentation.
Transparent labeling and informed consent.
Purpose.
Consumers may not expect interactive bioeng components in their food.
This action ensures transparency.
Design.
Restaurants and us, as producers, would disclose the presence of
bioengineered sensory additives through menus or verbal explanation.
Assumptions
This assumes consumers understand the information and that disclosure
does not provoke unnecessary fear.
Risk of failure and “success”
Labeling could be ignored or misunderstood. Overemphasis could reduce
adoption despite safety.
| Policy Goal | Action 1: Post-consumption deactivation | Action 2: Pre-market safety evaluation | Action 3: Transparency & consent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enhance biosecurity | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| – Prevent incidents | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| – Enable response | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Foster lab / production safety | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| – Prevent incidents | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| – Enable response | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Protect human health | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Minimize costs and burdens | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Feasibility | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Does not impede research or creativity | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Promote constructive use | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Conclusion.
Based on this evaluation, a combination of action 1 and action 2 should be prioritized, as they directly prevent harm and ensure consumer safety. Meanwhile, action 3 plays a complementary and important role by supporting transparency.
Week 1 Reflection.
During this first week, I thought a lot on the topics discussed, but particularly on the “dark side” of SynBiotech and Bioengineering. I also became more aware of how the limitation of these technologies significantly reduce progress, especially in Latin America, where structural and systemic barriers often restrict their reach.