Follow Your Swallow

The IDDSI framework

The IDDSI levels, 0 to 7

There are eight IDDSI levels. Drinks use Levels 0 to 4, foods use Levels 3 to 7, and the two scales overlap in the middle. Each one below opens a full page with the official descriptors, example foods, and the test that confirms it.

All eight levels
0Level 0. ThinFlows like water.Drinks1Level 1. Slightly ThickThicker than water, still drinkable through a straw.Drinks2Level 2. Mildly ThickSippable, but effort needed through a standard straw.Drinks3Level 3. Moderately Thick / LiquidisedDrinkable from a cup; smooth, no lumps.Drinks + Foods4Level 4. Extremely Thick / PureedEaten with a spoon. Holds its shape. No chewing needed.Drinks + Foods5Level 5. Minced & MoistSoft, moist pieces no bigger than 4 mm.Foods6Level 6. Soft & Bite-SizedTender 1.5 cm pieces. Chewing required, no knife needed.Foods7Level 7. Easy to Chew / RegularEveryday foods. Soft and tender at 7 EC; no restriction at 7 Regular.Foods
Primary sourceIDDSI framework development paper ↗
Source checked2026-08-14
Quick answers

What are the IDDSI levels?

There are eight, numbered 0 to 7: Level 0 Thin, Level 1 Slightly Thick, Level 2 Mildly Thick, Level 3 Moderately Thick (drinks) or Liquidised (foods), Level 4 Extremely Thick (drinks) or Pureed (foods), Level 5 Minced & Moist, Level 6 Soft & Bite-Sized, and Level 7 Easy to Chew or Regular. Drinks use Levels 0 to 4 and foods use Levels 3 to 7, so the two scales overlap in the middle.

What is an IDDSI diet?

An IDDSI diet is a clinician-directed way to describe the texture of foods and thickness of drinks for a person with chewing or swallowing difficulty. It uses eight levels, numbered 0 through 7. It is not one fixed menu.

Which IDDSI levels apply to drinks and foods?

Drinks use Levels 0 through 4, from Thin to Extremely Thick. Foods use Levels 3 through 7, from Liquidised to Regular, with Level 7 also including Easy to Chew guidance.

Who chooses an IDDSI level?

A qualified clinician or care team chooses the appropriate food and drink levels for a person after assessment. The food or drink should then be tested as it will actually be served.

Examples of drinks, purees, moist minced food, soft food, and a regular meal arranged together
Illustrative examples only. Use the prescribed level and the IDDSI tests below to confirm a serving.
Look up a level by its name
What IDDSI level is pureed food?Level 4 — and why the same number is also called Extremely Thick.Level 4→What IDDSI level is soft and bite-sized?Level 6, with the 1.5 cm size limit and the fork pressure test.Level 6→What IDDSI level is easy to chew?Level 7 EC, and how it differs from Level 7 Regular.Level 7→

Not sure of your level? Don’t guess. Your speech-language pathologist prescribes it after a swallowing evaluation. Bring these pages to your next visit.

Use your prescribed level
Run the official IDDSI testsUse guided syringe, fork, and spoon checks at serving temperature.Test kitchen→Browse verified productsFilter store-bought foods and drinks to the level your SLP prescribed.Products→Cook family meals by levelConvert one plate to Levels 3–6 and finish with the IDDSI check.Recipes→