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.

Nutrient density and oral processing properties of common commercial complementary porridge samples used in southern Africa: Effect on energy and protein intakes among children aged 6-24 months.

Child malnutrition is an endemic public health problem in Africa. Infants are supposed to receive complementary foods from about 6 months onwards, as breastmilk alone no longer provide adequate nutrients. Commercially available complementary foods (CACFs) form an important part of baby foods in developing countries.

Dynamic Oral Texture Properties of Selected Indigenous Complementary Porridges Used in African Communities.

Child malnutrition remains a major public health problem in low-income African communities, caused by factors including the low nutritional value of indigenous/local complementary porridges (CP) fed to infants and young children. Most African children subsist on locally available starchy foods, whose oral texture is not well-characterized in relation to their sensorimotor readiness. The sensory quality of CP affects oral processing (OP) abilities in infants and young children.