Materials scientists at Colorado State University have created a superhydrophobic coating for food packaging that slicks away viscous liquids like pancake syrup, honey and ketchup.

Maple syrup slides away with non-stick coating. The nontoxic, edible coatings are made from beeswax and carnauba wax. They are designed to replace coatings fabricated with fluorocarbons, which have come under regulatory scrutiny for their potential health risks.

While generally safe in low doses, superhydrophobic coatings are labeled as emerging contaminants because of their potential decomposition into perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, a known human toxin.

The university researchers set out to make superhydrophobic coatings specifically for, but not limited to, food packaging in a low-cost, scalable process using only U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved materials.

Beeswax was initially chosen because its chemical properties are similar to non-sticky fluorocarbons, but are safe to ingest, even in high concentrations. The researchers then developed a way to spray the coating onto a surface by first dissolving the wax.

Tests showed that a wide range of commonly consumed sticky liquids easily slide, roll or bounce off the coated surface of a typical polystyrene cup, leaving virtually no residue. (Watch this video.)

Researchers are now working to improve the mechanical durability of the coatings.