Implementing T/SATA 094-2025: A Practical Guide for Care Homes

Implementing T/SATA 094-2025: A Practical Guide for Care Homes

T/SATA 094-2025 is the group standard for dysphagia-safe care food published by the China Senior Care Industry Association (SATA) in 2025. It is the first systematic standard covering texture and nutritional requirements for care food products in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), and it represents a significant shift toward evidence-based, clinically grounded care food practice in mainland China and Hong Kong.

This guide is intended for care home operators, kitchen managers, and procurement teams considering T/SATA 094-2025 compliance.

Overview of T/SATA 094-2025

T/SATA 094-2025 covers five domains:

Food safety and labelling: Minimum food safety requirements (aligned with GB standards) plus mandatory labelling of compliant texture level on all care food products.

Nutritional specifications: Energy density and macronutrient requirements for care food at each texture level, with specific guidance for residents with protein-energy malnutrition risk.

Texture classification system: A 7-level texture classification referencing both the IDDSI framework and the Japanese Society of Dysphagia Rehabilitation Gakkai Classification 2021. Levels are defined by objective test methods (fork drip test, spoon tilt test, particle size measurement, flow rate measurement).

Sensory and palatability requirements: Minimum standards for appearance, aroma, and taste to ensure that texture-modified food is appealing and promotes adequate intake.

Packaging and shelf-life specifications: Requirements for packaging that maintains texture integrity during transport, storage, and reheating.

The 7 Texture Levels

T/SATA 094-2025 defines the following texture levels (with IDDSI equivalents in brackets):

Level 0 — Thin liquids [IDDSI 0]: No thickening. Normal water and thin beverages. Level 1 — Slightly thick [IDDSI 1–2]: Mild thickening, flows freely but slightly slower than water. Level 2 — Moderately thick [IDDSI 3]: Moderate thickening, falls off a spoon in a thick stream. Level 3 — Extremely thick / Liquidised [IDDSI 4]: Thick, pourable, smooth. No lumps. Level 4 — Pureed [IDDSI 4–5]: Smooth, no lumps, not sticky. Sits in a mound on a spoon. Level 5 — Minced and moist [IDDSI 5]: Soft particles max 4mm, easily mashed with tongue. Level 6 — Soft and bite-sized [IDDSI 6]: Tender pieces, can be chewed, max 15mm particle size.

Test Methods

The standard specifies the following test methods for texture verification:

Fork drip test: For liquids and purées — liquid should drip through fork tines at specified rates for each level. Spoon tilt test: Purée should fall off a tilted spoon in specific ways (slides off cleanly for Level 4, holds shape for Level 5). Particle size: Maximum particle dimensions for Levels 5 and 6 measured by visual inspection or sieve analysis. Flow rate: Measured using a viscosity flow cup (ISO standard) for thickened liquids.

Certification Process

T/SATA 094-2025 certification for care home suppliers involves three steps. First, internal self-assessment: kitchen management tests food preparation against standard specifications and documents results. Second, third-party audit: an accredited food testing laboratory (SGS, Intertek, or equivalent) tests products against T/SATA 094-2025 specifications. Third, certificate issuance: SATA or an accredited certification body issues a T/SATA compliance certificate valid for 2 years.

Cost of Compliance

For care homes purchasing certified products (as opposed to preparing in-house), compliance cost is primarily the incremental cost of switching to certified product suppliers. SeniorDeli's products are T/SATA 094-2025 aligned — purchasing SeniorDeli products and following our preparation guides meets the standard requirements without additional testing costs.

For care homes with in-house cooking programmes, initial third-party testing costs are typically HK$3,000–8,000 per product line, with annual re-testing at HK$1,500–3,000.

SeniorDeli as a Certified Supplier

SeniorDeli products are designed and tested to meet T/SATA 094-2025 specifications. Carewells participated as a drafting unit in the T/SATA 094-2025 technical working group, ensuring our formulations are aligned with the standard from inception.

Care homes that source from SeniorDeli can reference our product certificates and preparation guides in their T/SATA compliance documentation.

Getting Started

Care homes beginning the T/SATA 094-2025 implementation journey should start with a gap assessment: compare current food preparation practices against the standard's texture definitions and test methods. SeniorDeli offers a free gap assessment consultation for care homes — contact compliance@seniordeli.com.