Rubicon Foods LLC provides pre-shaped puree foods to improve the meal intake of residents in long-term care facilities suffering from dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing food. Dysphagia often afflicts patients with Parkinson's, Alzheimer's or Lou Gehrig's diseases, as well as patients who suffered from a stroke or some kinds of cancer. Dysphagia patients can choke, develop infections and even die. About 60,000 Americans each year die from complications from dysphagia, according to market research by Texas-based Encore Medical, a medical-device firm. More than 10 percent of nursing home patients receive a puree diet because they have dysphagia. Studies have shown that there were significant increases in consumption of pre-shaped puree food over standard facility prepared puree food for breakfast, supper and dessert. Rubicon is also selling mixes for pureed rice and pasta dishes as well as breads. The firm estimates that nursing homes could buy $48 million annually, a number that could hit upwards of $80 million by 2025.
