John Hopkins students invent edible tape that keeps burrito together

Chemical and biomolecular engineering students from Johns Hopkins University have created edible tortilla tape dubbed Tastee Tape to hold a burrito together.

The project was part of the Whiting School of Engineering's annual Design Day earlier this month.

Tastee Tape was described by the university as an edible adhesive comprising a food-grade fibrous scaffold and an organic adhesive that ensures the ingredients in your favorite wrap are kept tucked tightly inside during cooking and consumption.

The team behind the tape is currently filing for a patent, so they can't provide all of the details about how their innovation works just yet.

According to Tyler Guarino, who worked on the project with fellow seniors Marie Eric, Rachel Nie, and Erin Walsh, all of Tastee Tape's contents are safe to eat, food-grade, and typical food and nutritional additives.

The finished product is two-inch-long, half-inch-wide rectangular strips. Simply remove the waxed paper covering from Tastee Tape and wet the strip to activate its adhesive strength. The product is clear, just like the Scotch tape in your desk drawer, so it can be added discreetly to burritos and wraps of all sizes.

The crew said that their difficulties with sloppy burritos inspired them and it took months of prototyping before they found a final product that was both safe to consume and sturdy enough to keep together even the largest burrito.

Tastee Tape allows you to trust your tortilla and enjoy your meal mess-free by first learning about the science behind tapes and different adhesives, and then working to find edible alternatives," Guarino explained.