Development and characterization of polysaccharide–protein composite gels for dysphagia-friendly applications

Developing dysphagia-oriented foods requires texture-modified gel matrices with adequate structural integrity and stable viscoelastic properties, whereas single-thickener systems often provide limited control over overall gel performance. Here, we developed and characterized a fermented polysaccharide–protein composite gel system based on high-acyl gellan gum (HA-GG) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). Candidate food-grade polysaccharides permitted under GB 2760-2014 were first screened, f