Behind the Scenes: How We Create IDDSI-Compliant Bentos for Safer Eating

At GentleFoods®, creating IDDSI-compliant bento is a meticulous process that ensures each meal is safe, nutritious, and enjoyable for individuals with swallowing difficulties. In this article, we highlight our process for crafting an IDDSI Level 4 bento, which involves collaboration with experts, advanced technology, and strict quality control.

What is IDDSI?

The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) is a global framework that classifies food textures and liquid consistencies for people with dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). Our bento, following IDDSI Level 4 as an example, is pureed, smooth, and cohesive, with a consistency that requires minimal chewing and is safe to swallow.

Why IDDSI Compliance is Important?

For individuals with dysphagia, meals that meet IDDSI standards help prevent choking and aspiration while providing essential nutrition. Additionally, compliance ensures that meals remain visually appealing, enhancing the eating experience.

The 22-Step Journey in Creating a Level 4 Bento 

1. Collaboration with Chefs and Dietitians

Our journey begins with close collaboration between chefs and dietitians to ensure the recipes are both safe and nutritious, meeting the texture requirements of IDDSI Level 4.

2. Research and Development (R&D)

In this phase, we go through a rigorous trial and error process to create the perfect recipe. We experiment with different ingredients and techniques, ensuring the bento adheres to IDDSI standards while retaining flavour and nutritional value.

3. Nutritional Balance

After determining the recipes, the nutritional information is reviewed and approved by a dietitian to ensure that the ingredients meet dietary needs. Enrichment or fortification is applied only when necessary to enhance the nutritional value, ensuring a balanced diet suitable for individuals with dysphagia.

4. Ingredient Sourcing

We meticulously source the freshest ingredients available to ensure optimal quality and nutrition, laying the foundation for the bento.

5. Washing Ingredients

All ingredients are thoroughly washed to ensure they are clean and safe for cooking, adhering to the highest standards of hygiene.

6. Preparing Ingredients

Once washed, the ingredients are prepared by peeling, trimming, and chopping as necessary to get them ready for cooking.

7. Cooking in a Temperature-Controlled Environment

The ingredients are cooked using gentle methods like steaming, boiling, or baking in a temperature-controlled environment to achieve the correct softness for blending while also preserving nutrients.

8. Flavor Enhancement During Cooking

While the food is cooking, we add natural herbs, spices, and seasonings to enhance the flavour, ensuring that even pureed food remains appetising and tasty.

9. Blending to Achieve a Smooth Puree

Once cooked, the ingredients are blended into a smooth, cohesive puree that meets IDDSI Level 4 standards. This step ensures the texture is lump-free and safe for individuals with dysphagia.

10. Sieving for a Finer Consistency

After blending, the puree is sieved to remove any finer pieces, ensuring a smooth and consistent texture suitable for consumption.

11. Adding Thickeners for Consistency

We add thickeners when necessary to maintain the proper consistency and structure of the food. This ensures the puree retains its shape without becoming too runny.

12. Moulding for Visual Appeal

We use food moulds to shape the puree into forms resembling its original state, such as vegetables or fish, enhancing the bento’s visual appeal.

13. Portioning the Bento

The moulded food is then portioned into individual servings, forming a well-balanced and nutritious bento. This ensures uniformity and ease of serving.

14. Flash Freezing for Freshness

Immediately after portioning, the food is flash frozen to lock in flavour, nutrients, and texture, ensuring the bento remains safe and fresh for later consumption.

15. High-Tech Equipment for Precision

Our production process uses high-tech equipment to ensure accuracy, consistency, and safety in each step of blending, freezing, and packaging.

16. Speech-Language Therapist (SLT) Testing

To ensure the bento maintains its IDDSI compliance after reheating, we conduct tests to confirm the food holds its texture and shape after being warmed.

17. Reheating Testing

After labelling, each bento undergoes testing by a Speech-Language Therapist to ensure it meets the required swallowing standards and is safe for consumption.

18. Shelf-Life Testing

We also conduct shelf-life testing to guarantee that the bento remains fresh, safe, and nutritious for a specified period, allowing for convenient storage and later use.

19. Temperature-Controlled Storage

The packaged bento is stored in a temperature-controlled environment to preserve freshness and safety until it reaches the consumer.

20. Final Quality Assurance

A final inspection is conducted to ensure each bento complies with our quality standards and IDDSI guidelines, including checking texture, appearance, and packaging.

21. Distribution

Finally, the bento is distributed to various outlets, ensuring they are available for individuals who need IDDSI-compliant meals, providing convenience and safety to caregivers and consumers alike.

22. Continuous Improvement

We continually seek feedback from consumers and healthcare professionals to enhance our recipes and processes, ensuring that we meet the evolving needs of our clients.

The creation of IDDSI-compliant bento is a detailed and careful journey, where every step ensures safety, nutrition, and taste. From sourcing ingredients to flash freezing and packaging, each phase is crafted to deliver a nutritious, visually appealing, and easy-to-eat bento. We are proud of the intricate care and attention that goes into every bento we produce.