What level of IDDSI is minced and moist?

January 13, 2026 •

2 min read

According to the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI), minced and moist foods are specifically classified to improve safety for those with swallowing disorders. This food texture is crucial for individuals who struggle with chewing or swallowing and need their food to be soft, moist, and easily managed. Understanding what level of IDDSI is minced and moist is the first step in providing safe and appropriate meals.

Quick Summary

Minced and moist food is classified as IDDSI Level 5, featuring soft, cohesive, and moist characteristics with specific particle size requirements for safe swallowing for adults and children. It is designed for individuals with minimal chewing ability who can still use their tongue to move food into a swallowing position. Proper preparation and testing are essential to ensure the texture meets the safety standards.

Key Points

IDDSI Level 5: Minced and moist food is classified as IDDSI Level 5, which is represented by the color orange in the framework.
Specific Particle Size: For adults, food particles must be no larger than 4mm wide; for children, the size is limited to 2mm.
Moist and Cohesive Texture: The food must be consistently soft, moist, and cohesive enough to hold its shape on a spoon without separating into thin liquid.
Easy to Mash: This texture requires minimal chewing and is soft enough to be easily mashed by the tongue or with light pressure from a fork.
Simple Testing Methods: The Fork Pressure Test, Spoon Tilt Test, and Fork Drip Test are simple methods to check if food meets the Level 5 criteria.
Enhanced Safety: The standardized nature of IDDSI Level 5 helps reduce the risk of choking for individuals with chewing or swallowing problems.

Understanding the IDDSI Framework

The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) provides a global framework for describing texture modified foods and thickened liquids for people with dysphagia. This framework uses a continuum of eight levels, identified by numbers (0-7), text labels, and color codes, to standardize food and drink textures and improve safety. The standardized terminology helps minimize the risk of adverse events like choking.

What Level of IDDSI is Minced and Moist?

Minced and moist food is IDDSI Level 5, colored orange in the framework. This texture is soft, moist, and cohesive with no separate thin liquids. It's suitable for individuals who need minimal chewing and can use their tongue to manage small, soft particles.

Key Characteristics of IDDSI Level 5 (Minced and Moist)

Level 5 foods are consistently soft and moist, without dripping liquid. For adults, particles should be no larger than 4mm wide (about the width of a fork's tines), and for children, no larger than 2mm. The food should be cohesive but not sticky and mash easily with the tongue.

Simple Food Testing Methods for Level 5

IDDSI offers simple tests to verify Level 5 characteristics:

Fork Pressure Test: Food should mash easily and pass through fork tines with little pressure.
Spoon Tilt Test: Food should hold its shape on a spoon and fall off with a gentle flick, without stickiness.
Fork Drip Test: No liquid should drip from the food when picked up with a fork.

Comparison of IDDSI Texture Levels

A comparison of IDDSI levels can be found on the {Link: Roche Dietitians blog https://www.rochedietitians.com/blog/2020/7/27/iddsi-minced-amp-moist-level-5}. The table there highlights the differences between Level 5 and adjacent IDDSI levels, including texture, lump size, chewing requirements, testing methods, and consistency.

Preparing and Serving Level 5 Foods Safely

To safely prepare Level 5 foods, achieve the correct particle size, add moisture without creating separate thin liquids, and avoid hard or sticky items. Presentation can also encourage eating. More details are available on the {Link: Roche Dietitians blog https://www.rochedietitians.com/blog/2020/7/27/iddsi-minced-amp-moist-level-5}.

Conclusion

Identifying what level of IDDSI is minced and moist is important for safe dysphagia care. As IDDSI Level 5, this texture provides safe, palatable food with controlled particle sizes for individuals with chewing or swallowing difficulties. Following IDDSI standards and testing methods helps minimize choking risks and promotes better nutrition. Further information can be found on the {Link: Roche Dietitians blog https://www.rochedietitians.com/blog/2020/7/27/iddsi-minced-amp-moist-level-5}.

IDDSI website

Frequently Asked Questions

The main difference lies in the texture and particle size. Level 5 contains small, visible lumps (≤4mm for adults) that can be mashed with the tongue, while Level 4 is a completely smooth, lump-free puree.

Suitable foods include finely minced, tender meats mixed with a thick sauce, soft fruits mashed or finely chopped, and thick cereals without separate thin liquid.

Foods to avoid include hard, dry, tough, fibrous, or crunchy items, as well as foods with skins, husks, seeds, or stringy textures. Examples are regular bread, nuts, and raw vegetables.

Adequate moisture is crucial to ensure the food remains cohesive, preventing it from becoming dry and crumbly, which can increase the risk of choking during swallowing.

You can use a standard dinner fork to check the size. For adults, the food pieces should be no wider than the space between the fork's tines (approximately 4mm).

Yes, IDDSI was developed as a global initiative to provide a common terminology and standardized descriptors for texture modified foods and thickened fluids across all ages, care settings, and cultures.

Yes, but the particle size for pediatric populations is smaller, with lumps no larger than 2mm wide. Medical advice should always be sought for a child's specific needs.

Using IDDSI standards improves patient safety by reducing choking risk, ensures consistency in diet preparation across different facilities, and provides a clear, common language for healthcare professionals.