A COMPARISON BETWEEN DATA-ANALYSIS METHODS CONCERNING PARTICLE-SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS OBTAINED BY MASTICATION IN MAN

Three mixtures of chewed food particles (coarse, medium and fine) were quantified by measuring the particle sizes with an optical scanning device. The particle sizes were described by three different particle-size distributions: a cumulative volume, a volume and a number distribution. The median particle size was determined from each of the distribution functions. Suitability for characterizing a mixture of chewed food particles was tested, showing that the median particle size as obtained from a cumulative volume (or weight) distribution should be preferred. It was shown to be the most sensitive measure for characterizing mixtures of chewed food.