OUR IDDSI

Levels Explained

WHAT IS EC7 – EASY TO CHEW?

• Normal, everyday foods of soft/tender textures that are developmentally and age appropriate
• Does not include: hard, tough, chewy, fibrous, stringy, crunchy, or crumbly bits, pips, seeds, fibrous parts of fruit, husks or bones
• Sample size is not restricted at Level 7, therefore, foods may be of a range of sizes
• May include ‘dual consistency’ or ‘mixed consistency’ foods and liquids

WHAT IS SB6 – SOFT AND BITE SIZED?

• Can be eaten with a fork, spoon or chopsticks
• Can be mashed/broken down with pressure from fork, spoon or chopsticks
• Soft, tender and moist throughout but with no separate thin liquid
• Chewing is required before swallowing
• ‘Bite-sized’ pieces as appropriate for size and oral processing skills
  Adults, 15 mm = 1.5 cm pieces (no larger than)

WHAT IS MM5 – MINCED AND MOIST?

• Can be eaten with a fork or spoon
• Could be eaten with chopsticks in some cases, if the individual has very good hand control
• Can be scooped and shaped (e.g. into a ball shape) on a plate
• Soft and moist with no separate thin liquid
• Small lumps visible within the food, lumps are easy to squash with tongue
• Adult, equal to or less than 4mm width and no longer than 15mm in length

WHAT IS PU4 – PUREED?

• Usually eaten with a spoon (a fork is possible), Cannot be drunk from a cup because it does not flow easily
• Cannot be sucked through a straw
• Does not require chewing,
• Can be piped, layered or molded because it retains its shape, but should not require chewing if presented in this form
• Shows some very slow movement under gravity but cannot be poured
• Falls off spoon in a single spoonful when tilted and continues to hold shape on a plate
• No lumps
• Not sticky
• Liquid must not separate from solid