Abstract
Japanese food and beverage company Kirin Holdings and researchers at Meiji University have developed Taste-Adjusting Chopsticks to enhance the taste of low-sodium foods without diners having to add extra salt or compromise on taste, with the device making food taste 1 and a half times saltier. The new kitchen gadget has been designed as a wearable device that connects to a chopstick that uses an electrical current to give the perception of added saltiness in food. The Taste-Adjusting Chopsticks have been designed to enhance the taste of low-sodium foods without diners having to add extra salt or compromise on taste, with the device making food taste 1 and a half times saltier. The teams research and development comes at a time when there’s increasing awareness around the presence of salt in consumers’ diets, particularly in packaged food. Recently, a UK study by Action on Salt found around 70% of ‘meal deals’ contain levels of salt considered to be dangerously high. The prototype model comes in the form of a wristband made from a soft plastic and houses a mini-computer embedded on top. Connected to the unit by a wire, the chopstick conducts a weak electric current to the food, which activates ions in sodium chloride and sodium glutamat. This effectively changes the perception of taste by making flavours such as salt seem stronger. The team conducted a study with 36 people who were on a low sodium diet. The participants tasted two versions of miso soup – one with 30 per cent less salt and one with normal salt levels. After each sample was tested, the participants gave a perceived level of saltiness. They then tried the soups using the Taste-Adjusting Chopsticks. Kirin Holdings hopes that the technology may prove helpful for people on a low-salt diet or as an alternative to salt, which has been associated with numerous health problems. The company pointed to statistics that show the daily salt intake of Japanese adults is currently 10.9 grams for men and 9.3 grams for women, which is much higher that the five grams per day recommended by the World Health Organization. Excessive salt intake can lead to the onset of ailments including hypertension and chronic kidney disease – yet products and experiences are rarely designed with these factors in mind. Although the prototype is currently being developed for use with chopsticks, the company behind the device hopes that it could be altered and made for use with other kitchen utensils such as spoons or forks.
