Texture properties of foods targeted for individuals with limited oral processing capabilities: the elderly, dysphagia, and head and neck cancer patients

Food texture remains a key sensory attribute for food enjoyment, with the potential to modulate food intake, particularly in individuals with limited oral processing capabilities (OPC) such as the elderly, dysphagia, and head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. However, information relating to the textural quality of foods for these consumers is limited. Unsuitable food textures can cause food aspiration, lower meal enjoyment, reduce food/nutrient intake, and potentially lead to malnutrition. The objective of this review was to critically examine the state-of-the-art scientific literature on the textural properties of foods for individuals with limited OPC, identify existing gaps in research, and appraise the rheological-sensory textural design of optimal foods for individuals with limited OPC to improve eating safety, food intake, and nutritional status. Depending on the food type and nature of oral hypofunction, many foods for individuals with limited OPC have very low or too high viscosity, with low cohesiveness and high values for hardness, thickness, firmness, adhesiveness, stickiness, and slipperiness. Fragmented stakeholder approaches, the non-Newtonian nature of foods, the complexity of in vivo, objective food oral processing evaluation, suboptimal application of sensory science and psycho rheology, and research methodological weaknesses are some of the obstacles to addressing texture-related dietary challenges for individuals with limited OPC. There is a need to explore various multidisciplinary strategies for food texture optimization and interventions to improve food intake and nutritional status amongst people with limited OPC.

Automated summary

Food texture is important for food enjoyment and can affect food intake, especially for individuals with limited oral processing capabilities. However, there is limited information available on the textural quality of foods for these consumers. Inappropriate food textures can have negative effects on meal enjoyment and nutritional status. This review critically examines the scientific literature on textural properties of foods for individuals with limited oral processing capabilities, identifies research gaps, and discusses strategies for optimizing food textures to improve eating safety, food intake, and nutritional status.