National Food Institute and MTEC Launch Thailand's First IDDSI Standard for Elderly Care
The National Food Institute and MTEC (NSTDA) have launched Thailand's first IDDSI standard and Flow Tester and Fork Tester devices to improve food safety for elderly people.
The National Food Institute, in collaboration with the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC) under the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), held the "FOOD INNOVATION FOR AGING SOCIETY" event, launching certification under the international IDDSI standard for food for elderly people and those with dysphagia for the first time in Thailand. The event took place on 1 October 2026 at the Amarin Room, 3rd floor, Thai Food Learning Center, National Food Institute. The event included a signing ceremony for a memorandum of academic cooperation and the handover of testing devices developed by Thai researchers, aimed at raising food safety standards for Thailand's ageing society, which the country has now fully entered.
Ms. Paiyada Hanchaisuksakul, Director of the National Food Institute, said in her opening remarks that demand for food that meets health and safety requirements is rising alongside the ageing society, particularly among people with chewing or swallowing difficulties. The National Food Institute is equipped with laboratories to analyse food texture and viscosity according to the IDDSI standard, and can also develop formulations that can be further developed for commercial products.
What is the IDDSI standard and how does it relate to elderly people?
Dr. Chaiwuth Kamolpilas, Senior Researcher at MTEC, NSTDA, explained that IDDSI, or the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative, divides food and drink into 8 levels, from level 0 to level 7, to help elderly people and patients with dysphagia caused by the deterioration of oral organs avoid choking that could lead to aspiration pneumonia. The Food and Drug Administration currently requires that labelling for texture-modified foods be backed by laboratory analysis using equipment that meets this standard.
Flow Tester and Fork Tester devices developed by Thai researchers
MTEC, NSTDA designed and developed prototype Flow Tester and Fork Tester devices based on a user-oriented design concept, to reduce errors from traditional manual testing. The devices are lightweight and can be manufactured domestically. The production technology has already been transferred to the private sector for sale to operators, and testing services for food products that require labelling under IDDSI criteria are now available to interested operators.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Termsak Srikirin, Director of MTEC, NSTDA, proposed four dimensions of cooperation: developing knowledge and a database on Thai elderly people; developing reliable standards and testing systems; transferring technology for commercial application; and preparing a short, medium and long-term roadmap for food for elderly people in Thailand.
Event details and contact information
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Event date | 1 October 2026 |
| Venue | Amarin Room, 3rd floor, Thai Food Learning Center, National Food Institute |
| Contact for technology transfer and viscosity testing services (MTEC, NSTDA) | Business Development Division, Mr. Chanit Wanikanukul, Telephone 0 2564 6500 ext. 4788 |
| Contact for analysis testing services (National Food Institute) | Customer Service Department, Telephone 0 2422 8688 ext. 5301 to 5309, or Line OA @nfithailand |
This collaboration is of interest to food and beverage operators seeking to develop menus for elderly people that meet international standards, as well as hospitals, elderly care centres, and hotels or restaurants serving elderly customers and those with dysphagia, who can apply the IDDSI standard directly to improve the safety of food served to this group of customers.