Description of the project

The Project is financed by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, CENIT Programme, in which 12 companies have taken part: Naturex (Coordinator); Biopolis; Bioiberica; Furfural Español (Nutrafur); Campofrío Food Group; Corporación Alimentaria Peñasanta (Central Lechera Asturiana); Tutti Pasta; Mugala Innova (Mugaritz Restaurateur Group); Laboratorios Ordesa; Bodega Matarromera; Customdrinks (Hijos de Rivera Group) and Matia Foundation, as well as 24 research organizations: Ingema takes part as Matia Foundation’s Public Research Organization. This project, which lasts from September 2009 to December 2012, has a financed budget of 24,604,997.70 EUR.

Objectives

SENIFOOD project’s objective is to improve the quality of life of the elderly though diet and through making a balanced diet depending on their nutritional deficiencies or typical pathologies of the elderly or derived from ageing.

For that purpose, a coordinated research on ingredient and foodstuff companies is faced, as well as on a management entity for geriatric environments, supported by technological centres and universities, headed for industrial research on diet and food with specific characteristics and with beneficial effect towards different pathologies: metabolic syndrome, gastrointestinal health, bone health, visual health and cognitive function. The project is organized in four areas:

• Area 1 - Diet (transverse area for the definition of diet specifications and the reception of the results of the other areas);
• Area 2 - Ingredients (research on ingredients related to the necessities of the elderly);
• Area 3 - Applicability (research on food and industrial processing in different alimentary matrixes);
• Area 4 - Validation (research on the nutrition-health effect of different ingredients and alimentary matrixes).

Studies

In the Area 1, a study on the frequency of food consumption of the elderly has been done. This study has been carried out with the help of 41 people, all of them above 65 years old from the surroundings of San Sebastian and Lasarte.

For the execution of this study, an ad hoc questionnaire was done on the frequency of consumption of different food.

The obtained results on food that is recommended to be consumed daily show that the 9.76% follow the recommendation, whereas the 90.24% do not.

According to food that is recommended to be consumed once a week, we could say that the 34.15% follow the instructions, in contrast to the 65.85% who do not. These last ones tend to consume this food on a daily basis.

According to the consumption of occasional products, only the 7.32% follow the recommendations, in contrast to the 92.68% who do not.

In the Area 1, several tasting of products from the participating companies have also been done. Thanks to that, the importance of functional food has been highlighted, not only for the benefit of a particular pathology, but also to enjoy it as much as possible.

It is worth highlighting that Senifood Project understands food as a whole, which means that not only it studies the effect of this food and its organoleptic characteristics, but also the package in which it is presented and the information given in it. In this respect, the changes made in the package and labelling of one of the companies should be mentioned, a decision made after the feedback given by some older people.

Besides, a 3-week analysis of basal diet that is offered to patients of the Matia Foundation has been made.

The nutritional balance in energy intake shows that the carbohydrate amount is suitable to recommendations, except for the 3^rd basal diet, where the amount is a bit low. The fat supply is in acceptable levels, while protein supply is high in the three diets.

Meat consumption is sometimes excessive. Cereal intake is correct, but it is recommended to change these products for whole grain foods.

Mineral and vitamin supply in diet is presented with values of about 100% of the RDA, although calcium, magnesium and E vitamin deficiencies are normally noticed.

With these conclusions and the results of the nutritional valuation, it could be said that the 3^rd basal diet is the one with the most acceptable calorie content for the studied population, but it is the 2^nd basal diet the most balanced one according to the average values in the distribution of macronutrients.

The variety in diet is restricted to food from lunch or dinner, as it cannot be varied in breakfast and afternoon snack, except for specific days such as the last Thursday of the month, where churros with chocolate are given to residents.