The objective of this study was to develop a standard for setting a legal system for senior-friendly food. We conducted a web-based survey on 95 food industry workers. Answers to 10 questions in the survey were analyzed using SPSS 19.0. Important factors to consider when it comes to food for seniors are the supply of balanced nutrition, enhancement of functionality, and promotion of convenience. A total of 47 respondents (51.1%) felt the need for a legal system for senior food, and they thought that a certification for senior-friendly food would be advantageous for companies. They said that there should be texture standards to promote ease of chewing, standards for functionality, nutritional standards, and safety standards to certify senior-friendly foods. A total of 41 people (44.6%) said that it was reasonable to classify Japanese food into five levels of senior-friendly foods according to ease of chewing. Certification management received the highest score in implementing an activation plan for senior-friendly food.

The purpose of this study is to predict the economic size of foods-for-elderly market, which will be valuable information for establishing related policy and backup system. After setting the scope of related industry, detailed information for current market situation was investigated and a systematic forecast for market changes in the future was performed. Economic growth, changes in consumer expenditure and economic status of the elderly, current subscription of medical insurance and saving for pension were reflected. In addition, a survey toward related firms was completed and changes in aged population and incidence of chronic disease in the elderly were taken into account. Results show that the annual growth rate of the market was predicted to be the minimum 4.54% through the maximum 8.32% from 2010 to 2025 and its market size was forecasted to be the minimum 7,073 ten million won through the maximum 10,976 ten million won. It is expected that the market of foods-for-elderly will grow rapidly with development of foods technology and fast increase of aged population. Especially, growth of health functional foods and foods for special dietary uses for elderly will be distinguished. However, it seems that related firms are on the hedge, watching current trend of the related industry. This may results in insufficient supply against the demand. Therefore, policy for foods-for-elderly should be introduced and systematically administered, including R&D support, standardization and authentication for foods-for-elderly, construction of related database system.