Patent ID: 8413481

Claim:
A method for differentiating foods with respect to mouthfeel, comprising: a) recording a first tribological profile by measuring the friction factor of a first food as a function of sliding speed using a tribology device; b) recording a second tribological profile by measuring the friction factor of a second food as a function of sliding speed using said tribology device; c) comparing said first tribological profile with said second tribological profile, wherein said tribology device is a tribology device for assessing mouthfeel-related properties of a food sample, said tribology device comprising a motor and a measuring system comprising a first measuring element having at least a first measuring surface, and at least a second measuring element separated from said first measuring element and having at least one second measuring surface, at least one of said measuring elements being connected to said motor, said at least one first measuring surface and said at least one second measuring surface defining at least one contact measuring surface in which said food sample, during measurement, is disposed and sheared, wherein the width of the at least one contact measuring surface is adjustable by displacing said first measuring element and said at least one second measuring element relative to each other, and wherein at least one second measuring surface and/or at least one first measuring surface is composed of a thermoplastic elastomer having a delta friction factor of more than 0.2 between an aqueous 10% (w/w) sucrose solution and sunflower oil.