The Role of Mastication Simulators in Emotion-Inducing Food Design

This Viewpoint proposes emotion-inducing food design as a framework for intentionally designing the dynamic emotional experience of eating. It highlights mastication simulators as a key technology for its implementation. Food-evoked emotions arise from neuromechanical inputs during chewing, multisensory integration, and the physiological actions of food components, all of which evolve from the first bite to swallowing and beyond. Quantitative, time-resolved characterisation of food breakdown and bolus formation is essential for this framework. Mastication simulators combined with dynamic sensory methods and physiological measures can translate emotional functionality into actionable food design variables for product development.