The Disfasia Diet Standardization Initiative

Can you imagine what you would miss if you lost the ability to eat?

Swallowing is something most of us take for granted, but around 8% of the general population are believed to experience some difficulty swallowing – known as dysphagia.

In this programme, Ruth Alexander talks to one of the estimated hundreds of millions of people who have struggled with swallowing food and drink, and to those who are trying to make the condition better understood.

She speaks to California-based Sonia Blue, who lost the ability to swallow after having surgery; chef Niamh Condon, in Cork, Ireland; and Professor Bronwyn Hemsley, head of speech pathology at the University of Technology Sydney, Australia.

Always seek advice from a qualified health care professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk

(Picture: Pureed apple on a spoon. Credit: Getty Images/BBC)

Producer: Elisabeth Mahy