Ourhome Develops Training Food to 'Enhance Elderly Chewing Ability'... Targeting Commercialization in 2025

Published 03 Apr.2023 08:52(KST)

Ourhome announced on the 3rd that it will actively engage in research and development of training foods aimed at improving and enhancing the masticatory ability of the elderly.

Exterior view of Ourhome Magok headquarters. [Photo by Ourhome]

Ourhome has been selected as a research institution for the "High Value-added Food Technology Development Project - Food Quality and Safety Division," implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and overseen by the Korea Institute of Planning and Evaluation for Technology in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The company will commence research on "Development of Training Foods and Product Quality Improvement for Enhancing the Masticatory Ability of the Elderly" until December 31, 2024.

Together with joint research institutions, Ourhome will collect data related to the masticatory ability of the elderly and utilize it to develop a personalized dietary design algorithm based on individual chewing and swallowing (the act of chewing and swallowing food) abilities. The company plans to develop and commercialize stepwise training foods aimed at improving and strengthening masticatory ability. This research involves specialized institutions from various fields, including Qraum, Seongnam Senior Innovation Center, Ewha Womans University, and Yonsei University College of Dentistry.

Through this research, Ourhome intends to commercialize stepwise training foods based on the masticatory ability of the elderly. The company will develop foods based on surveys of elderly food preferences and proceed with designing mass production processes and large-scale manufacturing.

An Ourhome representative stated, "As aging is becoming a major issue not only domestically but globally, competition in related technologies and business is intensifying. Ourhome has deeply recognized the necessity of masticatory training for the elderly by supplying care foods to numerous senior facilities in the B2B senior market over a long period and communicating with consumers."