Rheological constancy
The homogeneity of foods meant for patients with dysphagia must comply with the rheological parameters defined in collaboration with speech-therapists and physicians who know in detail the specific diseases and the degrees of difficulty encountered by guests and patients. The homogeneity must be absolutely certain, stable and constant in time with respect to these parameters.
On the basis of surveys conducted as part of the audit and, in particular, on the basis of the comparative study, we can say that the traditional solution of foods blended in the kitchen has a strong variability as far as homogeneity, consistency, viscosity, adhesion are concerned.
This is due to the nature of the food, the difficulty in predefining doses and preparation procedures in a precise way and with constant results. The risks related to the ingestion of blended food can be various. This highlights the difficulty in addressing the issue in an appropriate and safe way.
Conversely, the dishes RistoSano®, once approved and tested by the Institution’s speech therapists and nutritionists, present precise and constant rheological and organoleptic characteristics: they do no undergo changes since their preparation and dosage of ingredients are defined and controlled by appropriate electronic systems.
Below we provide a very brief scheme of comparison extracted from the comparative study from which elements of Rheological evaluation can be inferred. The comparison is the result of a large number of daily surveys, carried out with the help of professional and calibrated instruments and on the basis of agreed upon procedures.
- Consistency: distance covered on Bostwick consistometer
- Viscosity: passing time in calibrated funnel
- Particle size: The amount retained by calibrated sieves
- Homogeneity: the absence or presence of lumps and dual-phase
- Adhesion: amount adherent to a calibrated spoon.
The results summarised below refer to optimal values accurately identified for each of the rheological parameters by the speech therapists of the institution in dedicated sessions, before the data collection stage.
| Dish | Number of detections | Lumps presence | Percentage lump presence | Dual phase presence | Percentage dual phase presence | Consistency* | Viscosity* | Adhesion* | Particle size * |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RistoSano | 60 | 1 | 1,7% | 1 | 1,7% | 7% | 5% | 6% | 5% |
| Traditional | 39 | 21 | 54% | 9 | 23% | 50% | 25% | 30% | 45% |
*variabilità rispetto al parametro ottimale