Scientists Create Permanently Slick Surface So Ketchup Won't Stay In Bottle 172
HughPickens.com writes Much of what we buy never makes it out of the container and is instead thrown away — up to a quarter of skin lotion, 16 percent of laundry detergent and 15 percent of condiments like mustard and ketchup. Now Kenneth Chang reports at the NYT that scientists have just solved one of life's little problems — how to get that last little bit of ketchup (or glue) out of a bottle. Using a coating that makes the inside of the bottle permanently wet and slippery, glue quickly slides to the nozzle or back down to the bottom. The technology could have major environmental payoffs by reducing waste. Superhydrophobic surfaces work similar to air hockey tables. Tiny peaks and valleys on the surface create a thin layer of air between the liquid and the coating. The air decreases friction, so the liquid almost levitates above the surface, just like the hockey puck floats above the table. LiquiGlide's approach is similar, but it uses a liquid lubricant, not a gas. "What could be a solution that provides sort of universal slipperiness?" says Dr. Varanasi. "The idea we had was, Why not think about trapping a liquid in these features?" Dr. Varanasi and Mr. Smith worked out a theory to predict interactions among the surface, the lubricant and air. Essentially, the lubricant binds more strongly to the textured surface than to the liquid, and that allows the liquid to slide on a layer of lubricant instead of being pinned against the surface, and the textured surface keeps the lubricant from slipping out. "We're not defying physics, but effectively, we are," says Smith.
How is this new? (Score:5, Interesting)
I've seen these sorts of videos for at least 5 years now. Where are the commercial products?
Re:How is this new? (Score:5, Insightful)
There is absolutely no incentive for Heinz to put this into their bottles. This means people will spend less on average on ketchup per year since they can get every last bit out of the bottle. I know it may not seem like much, but multiply it by millions of bottles sold and it adds up to a hefty hit on their bottom line.
Re:How is this new? (Score:5, Insightful)
You're thinking about it all wrong.
You turn it over, half the bottle dumps onto your food. You have to buy twice as much. Effectively they can increase food waste, and therefore sales, under the guise of environmentalism. Sure, we'll help you get every last drop ... just all at once.
I know the last thing my wife wants is for me to have the mustard come out of the bottle any faster. I always end up with far too much as it is. ;-)
If the ketchup came out faster we'd be doomed.
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I know the last thing my wife wants is for me to have the mustard come out of the bottle any faster.
That's what she said!
Heyoooooooo!
Re:How is this new? (Score:5, Interesting)
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I'm wondering, is this the next round of BPA /phthalates that we find are bad for us?
Of course it is, but we won't do any sort of health testing until decades later when it's in most of our products.
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That may not be what you have to worry about [deadspin.com]. In fact, if these problems come to pass, it would probably solve the obesity epidemic in a month.
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OTOH, who can resist the opportunity to revive the phrase "anal leakage"? [wikipedia.org]
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Ah, the fond memories...
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Had a roommate that went through a Heinz catsup factory. Watched what they put "into the vats" and said he never ate ketchup again.
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I got some very funny looks when I checked the use by date on a bottle of fish sauce. It's already gone off so the date is mere decoration.
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I'm wondering, is this the next round of BPA /phthalates that we find are bad for us?
From TF-NYT-A: (emphasis mine)
The approach also allows them to vary the ingredients of the textured layer and the lubricant to fit the properties of different liquids — for food applications, the coatings are derived from edible materials.
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That won't happen. Ketchup is a non-newtonian fluid: its viscosity changes with shear force, and so it refuses to flow until adequate force is applied. That's why ketchup doesn't leave the bottle with gentle force, but spurts out when squeezed. It will retain its shape just fine until forced out.
Heinz will collapse as a company and be bought by Kraft or something stupid while Hunts goes on to advertise to housewives that they can get that last squirt with their bottle.
Re:How is this new? (Score:5, Informative)
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There's a very simple solution to the ketchup bottle problem: turn it sideways.
Most people hold the ketchup bottle vertically upside down over their plate and slap the bottom to make the ketchup come out. This doesn't work very well. Instead you hold the bottle horizontally over your plate and hit the side, so that there's plenty of room for air to enter the bottle while the ketchup flows out. Works every time. Try it.
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Just had this "problem" the other day... I squeeze the bottle and nothing comes out, so I squeeze harder and harder until suddenly I hit the "breakthrough" point and get an avalanche. I do not like those squeeze bottles, thank you very much, the glass bottles work much better for me.
Re: How is this new? (Score:2)
Is there any problem plastic can't solve?
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Unfortunately, that solution is so obvious that the condiment makers have made it for us. Where can you even get a glass bottle of ketchup any more?
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> You turn it over, half the bottle dumps onto your food.
Insightful? REALLY? I didn't read that they're making the ketchup thinner or removing the small hole in the end of the cap. The article shows a glass ketchup bottle, true, but the other bottles shown are the more common squeezable plastic kind. The last time I used a glass ketchup bottle was maybe 10 years ago in a restaurant.
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I was wondering why they replaced their wonderful crosshair squeeze tops with normal pop-tops within the last few years. The old bottles were very precise and clean. The new ones just glop the stuff out.
Just the latest round of, "you're holding it wrong," I guess.
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Sensible comment. There's a marketing story about how a toothpaste increased their sales by 15% just by increasing the size of the opening of the tube. Since then, they've all done that. And with they I don't mean toothpaste brands. Think about it the next time you squirt some detergent in the sink
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You're thinking about it all wrong.
You turn it over, half the bottle dumps onto your food. You have to buy twice as much. Effectively they can increase food waste, and therefore sales, under the guise of environmentalism. Sure, we'll help you get every last drop ... just all at once.
I know the last thing my wife wants is for me to have the mustard come out of the bottle any faster. I always end up with far too much as it is. ;-)
If the ketchup came out faster we'd be doomed.
My favorite are the hand wash products that when you give a push the gel shoots right out over your hand, missing it completely.
In second place are the shower products with holes big enough that you just can not get a small quantity out.
Re:How is this new? (Score:5, Insightful)
They'll sell smaller bottles for the same price, and they'll enjoy lower shipping prices. Win-win, kinda.
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They'll sell smaller bottles for the same price, and they'll enjoy lower shipping prices. Win-win, kinda.
People won't buy smaller bottles for the same price.
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Yeah they will, and they do. All that needs to be done is to reshape the bottle, and nobody will be the wiser. This (and watering the product down, it's just like the drug market) is a very common method of making your inflation figures look good.
Nah because if they could've they already would've, to the most possible.
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Charge an extra $0.30 per bottle just for the novelty factor, while at the same time converting more people away from the store brand.
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Yes there is. Competition. Absent collusion, someone will implement it in an attempt to gain or maintain market share. I'm not saying the free market is a panacea, but that's the incentive, and I suspect it's compelling enough in this case.
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On the contrary... (Score:4, Informative)
I know it may not seem like much, but multiply it by millions of bottles sold and it adds up to a hefty hit on their bottom line.
You are completely correct. In the past Heinz has even been caught cheating by underfilling their ketchup bottles [breakingnews.ie].
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Of course there's an incentive. Just like with anything else, Heinz dominance in the ketchup market is not guaranteed. Consumers ALWAYS have the option of switching to another brand like Hunt's, or a generic store brand that's cheaper. Heinz wants give consumers a reason for choosing a slightly more expensive national brand, and a better bottle may be a part of that decision.
Moreover, what can you really do to market ketchup? It's not exactly a product that you can improve on in terms of the food itself
Re:How is this new? (Score:4)
In the history of "conservation" no one has managed to turn the ability to use less of a product, into the *practice* of using less of a product. How often do you let the empty ketchup bottle "ride" in the fridge and squeeze a few faint drops on each hot dog hoping to get the last of it, while really only putting 1/10th your normal amount on? Yep. Now, you can get your full ketchup fix on time, every time. And when the bottle is gone it's gone, no more "maybe one more blob of salt-tomato-vinegar heaven, if I shake it just right!" instead, it's on to the next new bottle, and the next full load of ketchup on your bratwurst, and even BETTER sales for Kraft/Heinz.
Further reading: energy efficiency != energy conservation: http://freakonomics.com/2015/0... [freakonomics.com]
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There is absolutely no incentive for Heinz to put this into their bottles. This means people will spend less on average on ketchup per year since they can get every last bit out of the bottle. I know it may not seem like much, but multiply it by millions of bottles sold and it adds up to a hefty hit on their bottom line.
And thus a need for...regulation.
And for all you who think that the free market works well without government intervention- enjoy your wasted ketchup (or whatever) because this ain't never gonna happen wi'out no reg-u-la-shun.
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There is absolutely no incentive for Heinz to put this into their bottles. This means people will spend less on average on ketchup per year since they can get every last bit out of the bottle. I know it may not seem like much, but multiply it by millions of bottles sold and it adds up to a hefty hit on their bottom line.
I have to contradict you. Yes there is an incentive. If you can get all the condiment out from the container, instead of losing 15%, then Heinz and others can make their portions smaller, without reducing selling price.
Ketchup was never a problem ... (Score:5, Informative)
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When there's a little left in the bottle I just store it upside down so that when I go to use it all of the ketchup, mustard, etc is right at the cover. I can't understand how people are wasting 15%.
Re:Ketchup was never a problem ... (Score:4, Informative)
2. Hold bottle at the bottom
3. Make a sudden, whipping movement with your arm, alternatively windmill it around.
4. ???
5. Physics! It works, bitches!
(6. Hold horizontally when opening)
Re:Ketchup was never a problem ... (Score:5, Funny)
4. ???
(4) is "realize you should have been holding the bottle more tightly during step 3 -- go to find the mop and broom"
Oh sure... (Score:3)
and like BPA plastic coatings I'm sure it'll be completely harmless to us... for now...
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Yes but ketchup manufacturers (Big Ketchup?) paid the researchers to figure out the ketchup bottle problem. Not our long-term health. That problem is dumped by Big Ketchup into the FDA's lap who'll then turn around and ask Big Ketchup to study the problem for 90 days and, if nobody dies of cancer during that time, will deem the super slippery ketchup bottles safe. Unless the FDA decides that they can fast track the approval process because the American People need this product as soon as possible.
Re:Oh sure... (Score:4, Funny)
the coatings are derived from edible materials
Allegedly so are hotdogs and white bread.
Again? (Score:5, Interesting)
I thought they did this years ago. [slashdot.org]
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The news isn't that it's been created... (Score:5, Informative)
We already knew it existed, as reported on Slashdot back in May of 2012:
http://science.slashdot.org/story/12/05/23/2240213/mit-creates-superhydrophobic-condiment-bottles
The news here is that it's finally being commercialized.
More expense for the seller to sell less? (Score:2)
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This doesn't seem like a feature, at least to me.
Am I the only one that's had the experience of turning the bottle of ketchup over and having way too much pour out onto my burger? Or salad dressing, for that matter?
Wow ... (Score:5, Funny)
So, if you could do this on the outside of condoms you'd put Wet and Astroglide out of business. ;-)
Introducing, everslide ... our slipperiest condoms evar.
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Sorry Babe. I put that thing on inside out again!
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Each one is good for two uses!
But (Score:5, Funny)
Does it cause cancer in California?
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For reference, here's the CA Prop 65 list [ca.gov] (PDF)
Yummy, tasty liquid lubricant (Score:2)
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I don't know about carcinogenic but I would imagine it might have laxative like properties.
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.
Slip Slidin' Away [youtube.com]
Recycling (Score:3)
Multi layered packaging (such as ketchup bottles or juice cartons) is already notoriously difficult to recycle. Can't imagine this helps... At least you can rinse out the leftover ketchup.
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For paper and plastics, that's true. Glass would be the best bet, since the melting or flash point of the coating(s) is almost certainly lower than that of glass, so it can easily be separated.
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If nothing sticks to it, why couldn't you just refill it?
Ketchup bottles? (Score:2)
How about coating the insides of our arteries with something like that!
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Great, then you'd have an artificial version of hemophilia, wouldn't you? The slightest nick and you'd bleed out?
Reminds me of some diet product from years ago that got pulled due to excessive rectal seepage.
Oh yeah, this'll get picked up (Score:2)
'Reducing waste', from the point of view is actually 'reducing sales'. Product that is 'wasted' is merely product bought and never used. Reducing this 'waste' will reduce their sales volume.
I'm sure they're all eager to jump on something that will reduce sales, no matter how much consumers would like it.
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Consumers will do anything to feel more socially or economically responsible! They'll buy twice as many of these new bottles just for the privilege of wasting less ketchup and plastic.
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How much do they save by you rebuying a teaspoon of ketchup once a month? Ketchup bottles are already refillable.
How much brand name exposure would they get to be the only company with the "unstickable" bottles? Ketchup bottles that are squirty without whacking required (the new plastic-sphincter caps), sit on their lids not their base, etc. have actually increased sales of (technically smaller) bottles in many industries. Hell, in the UK you can buy squirty mint sauce and it costs more than normal mint
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If the consumers like it, couldn't they raise prices? It might also allow the early adopter to grab market share until the competitors ketch up.
If your condiment bottle does something cool that the competitor's doesn't, I'll buy it and pay a premium.
Better on the outside (Score:1)
save water! (Score:2)
Sounds Messy (Score:2)
So like you open the lid and a fountain of ketchup immediately geysers out of the bottle?
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Even creepier. The ketchup slithers out of the bottle top like a red high-temperature Helium II... and all over everything. And it keeps going... seeking something only Cthulhu knows.
How to get 99% of ketchup out of the bottle (Score:2)
1) close the bottle, turn it upside down with one hand
2) tap the bottle (2 or 3 times) to the other hand, while holding it upside down, to move the ketchup from the bottom to the (inside) walls of the bottle
3) Stand the bottle on its cap
4) let it stand for ~20 minutes
5) most of the ketchup will slowly slide to the bottom, leaving the sides almost clean - try it to see it
6) carefully open the cap while still upside down, emp
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Laundry detergent waste? (Score:4, Insightful)
"16 percent of laundry detergent"
If you're wasting that much laundry detergent you're doing something very wrong. I use liquid and when the bottle runs dry I take a few cupfuls of water out of the washer and put it in the bottle, give it a few shakes and then dump it straight into the wash. I doubt more than 0.1% manages to stick to crevices in the pour spout. Even if you didn't do that I have a hard time believing that more than 3% sticks to the sides of the bottle. With your average bottle 16% is more than 5 loads worth of detergent still in the bottle.
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How is it for the environment? (Score:2)
Forget the ketchup bottle ... (Score:2)
... I want a stain-proof superhydrophobic shirt!
Re:Coating causes growth of superfluous genitalia (Score:5, Funny)
First, everything is a chemical.
But more importantly, there is no such thing as superfluous genitalia.
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I literally cannot wait for that.
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Don't be a dickhead
Re:Coating causes growth of superfluous genitalia (Score:4, Interesting)
We don't need more chemicals in our packaged food products.
Brace yourself, but most people who consume packaged food products have little concern over any chemicals in them.
Re:Coating causes growth of superfluous genitalia (Score:5, Funny)
The corollary to this is most people who consume packges chemicals have very little concern if there is any actual food products in them.
I recently saw "imitation American-style cheese food slices". Now, "American" "cheese" isn't legally cheese in most of the world. So what the fsck is imitation artificial cheese?
I'm not even sure it had any dairy in it.
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I recently saw "imitation American-style cheese food slices". Now, "American" "cheese" isn't legally cheese in most of the world. So what the fsck is imitation artificial cheese?
I'm not even sure it had any dairy in it.
"American" cheese is a very mild cheddar with a low melting point. It is actual cheese.
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I've had American cheddar. It's tasty stuff. That's not what I'm talking about.
But that "process cheese food" made from long-chain polymers which isn't legally cheese and comes in individual plastic is what I'm talking about. It's NOT actual cheese.
And the package on this stuff indicated it was an "immitation" version of the stuff which isn't legally cheese.
Basically it was a yellow goo made of soy oil and other crap.
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American cheddar is different from american cheese which is different from the individually sliced, completely non-cheese junk you're talking about.
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The corollary to this is most people who consume packges chemicals have very little concern if there is any actual food products in them.
I recently saw "imitation American-style cheese food slices". Now, "American" "cheese" isn't legally cheese in most of the world. So what the fsck is imitation artificial cheese?
I'm not even sure it had any dairy in it.
Reminds of McDonalds in the 90s when they were forced to changed the description of their burgers from containing beef to containing meat in the EU (the meat didn't contain enough beef to qualify as beef, but the pink goo did qualify as "meat") . Always beware of too generic food descriptions.
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I'm pretty sure even in the US american cheese is labeled as cheese food, i.e. a food product with cheese in it, and not cheese. Just saying since your statement "in most of the world" seemed to imply the US considered it cheese, when I'm pretty sure that even we don't.
Well, we kind of do, in the same way that we kind of call it cheese...
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Actually you can find both, and there is a qualitative difference, American Cheese and American Cheese Food Product.
Deli counters will often have American Cheese, whereas most packed stuff is Cheese Product.
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Obligatory [youtube.com].
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yeah, as we know, if you are a hotdog eater, you are picky about the quality of your food.