PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a food and a masticatory function test method capable of simply testing the masticatory function at a sufficiently high accuracy.SOLUTION: This pigmented food for the masticatory function test is formed by containing pigment such as carotene in a food material such as Gumi-jelly which is segmented into a plurality of masticated pieces by the mastication and, in the masticatory function test, provides a masticatory function evaluation value by measuring the concentration of the pigment eluted from the masticated pieces of the food for the masticatory function test after the mastication.COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT【課題】十分に高い精度で且つ簡便に咀嚼機能を検査することが出来る食品及び咀嚼機能検査方法を提供する。【解決手段】本発明に係る咀嚼機能検査用色素含有食品は、グミゼリーの如く咀嚼によって複数の咬断片に細分化することが可能な食材にカロチン等の色素を含有したものであって、咀嚼機能の検査においては、咀嚼後の咀嚼機能検査用食品の咬断片から溶出する色素の濃度を測定することにより咀嚼機能評価値を得る。【選択図】図8
