Students Have Invented Edible Tape That Stops Your Burrito From Falling Apart

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I think everyone who has ever eaten a burrito – or a kebab, taco or gyro when you come to think of it – has faced that problem where you just have way too much food in it. It starts to come apart and lovely bits of chicken and vegetables start falling out all over your clothes, along with all that delicious guacamole and sour cream and it becomes a real chore to eat and enjoy it, whilst also making a hell of a lot of mess all over you.

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It’s a tricky situation and more common than you think, so it seems sort of surprising to me that nobody has really tried to think up a solution for it – except maybe rolling them tighter – and that everyone has just decided to accept this as part of the process. These smart kids studying for chemical and biomolecular degrees from John Hopkins University over in Baltimore have finally stepped up to the plate though with their new research project.

Tyler Guarino, Marie Eric, Rachel Nie, and Erin Walsh teamed up on the ‘Tastee Tape’ project and showed off the results at the university’s annual Design Day engineering showcase over the weekend. The tape is pretty much exactly what you see: a piece of edible tape that gets placed on your burrito or whatever to stop it from falling apart. Apparently it’s easy to apply and yummy too.

Here’s what Guarino had to say about the revolutionary new concept:

First, we learned about the science around tape and different adhesives, and then we worked to find edible counterparts.

We tested a multitude of ingredients and combinations before settling on a final recipe that’s edible, safe, and has the tensile strength you can trust to hold together a fat burrito.

I can’t tell you what’s in it just yet as we’re applying for a patent, but what I can say is that all its ingredients are safe to consume, are food grade, and are common food and dietary additives.

Tastee Tape allows you to put full faith in your tortilla, and enjoy your meal.

Wow. What a revolutionary concept. I know some people will say that you’re an idiot if you can’t eat a burrito (or whatever) properly without making a mess, but sometimes I think it just depends on who’s made the burrito and it’s no fault of those eating it. It can happen to anyone.

Tastee Tape (terrible name) could really help out with those situations, so it’s a shame we might not see it roll out for a while as they await a pavement. Maybe you could use a piece of sellotape in the meantime and eat around it until the end? Just an idea.

For more of the same, check out when Justin Bieber proved to everyone that he didn’t know how to eat burrito. Tastee Tape is no use for him.