Coordinated by the French Research Institute INRA, the H2020 OPTIFEL project aimed to define and propose vegetable and fruit-based foods to improve the nutrition and eating pleasure of elderly populations to increase length of independence.
The population targeted by the project is elderly cooking at home or making use of meal-on-wheels services for whom the project has conceived food products adapted to their taste, habits, needs and constraints. OPTIFEL has tested the approach on fruit and vegetable products, which traditionally constitute a high part of elderly diet, offer great variety, and are amenable to texture manipulation. In addition, emerging literature has associated higher intake of vegetables and fruits to improved health outcomes, including disability and chronic diseases. Other factors such as food safety, adapted packaging and environmental costs assessment have also been investigated.
Arcadia was in charge ot the work package 6 (WP6), dissemination and technology transfer.
The project has been carried out in six phases:
- Identification of user specifications.
- Definition of functional specifications.
- Development of appropriate processes, packaging systems and logistical systems.
- Impact study of storage and preparation on product properties.
- Determination of the acceptance of products in situ (at home or retirement home).
- Dissemination and transfer of the technology.