How Elderly Care Homes Choose the Right Food Supplier
The Care Home Catering Challenge
Care homes in Hong Kong face increasingly demanding catering requirements. Social Welfare Department data shows that more than 50% of residents have some degree of dysphagia.
Safety and Compliance Come First
IDDSI compliance is the most basic and most important requirement. The supplier's production facility should hold HACCP certification or ISO 22000 food safety management certification. Ingredient lists must clearly declare every known allergen.
Evaluating Product Performance
When choosing a thickener, consider dissolving speed, stability, transparency, and the range of beverages it works with. When choosing a food gellant, consider ease of operation, mouthfeel, and stability. For frozen soft meal powders, the critical metrics are freeze–thaw stability and reheat-temperature tolerance.
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Care homes should not focus on unit price alone. A full cost-benefit analysis should account for labour savings, reduced food waste, and avoided risk costs.
Beyond product, the supplier should provide on-site training, recipe development support, dietitian consultation, and regular follow-up reviews of product use.
Want to apply these insights in your care home? Try our free [EAT-10 screening tool](/assessment) or [download the SeniorDeli app](/app) — free for care teams and speech therapists.