Cutting down on sugar is pretty easy, but reducing salt intake can be challenging since nobody enjoys bland food. However, it’s known that excessive salt can harm your health, especially those with health conditions. Addressing this concern, Kirin Holdings, based in Japan, recently developed and launched an electric spoon that tricks our tongue into sensing saltiness without actually adding salt to the food. This innovative Electric Salt Spoon is set to be sold online for 19,800 yen (about Rs 10,000) this month and Kirin is planning to initially release just 200 units.
Researchers believe this device could encourage healthier eating habits while reducing sodium intake. According to Reuters, Kirin aims to attract 1 million users worldwide within five years. Overseas sales are slated to begin next year, while the spoons will be available in stores across Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka.
According to the company website, “Using a weak electric current, it enhances the saltiness of low-salt foods and changes the taste of your meals. All you have to do is replace your usual chopsticks and spoon with the Electric Salt Spoon for low-salt soups and curries, making it quick and easy. Even with lightly seasoned, healthy meals, you can taste the saltiness, umami, and flavour.”
“There are various mechanisms by which Electric Salt enhances the saltiness, one of which is to control the movement of taste components called ions. When eating a normal meal (without Electric Salt), the sodium ions that form the basis of saltiness are dispersed within the mouth and some are not even detected as a taste by the tongue. Electric Salt draws these sodium ions, which tend to disperse, towards the tongue by passing a weak electric current around the tongue through the food. This creates the illusion that the saltiness has increased,” Kirin Holdings added.
The spoon is made from a combination of plastic and metal, and it was developed in collaboration with Professor Homei Miyashita from Meiji University. Previously, Professor Miyashita had come up with a similar taste-enhancing electric chopsticks. Kirin Holdings, known for its beer business, is now focusing towards healthcare. Reportedly, the company highlighted that in Japan, the average adult consumes around 10 grams of salt per day, which is twice the World Health Organization’s recommended amount.
Meanwhile, Kirin researcher Ai Sato explained, “Japan has a food culture that tends to favour salty flavours. Japanese people as a whole need to reduce the amount of salt intake but it can be difficult to move away from what we’re used to eating. That’s what led us to develop this electric spoon.”
The Electric Salt Spoon measures 25 cm in length and weighs 60 grams. It functions on a single lithium battery and provides approximately 30 hours of use.
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