Electric-Powered Tableware to Enhance Taste of Low-Salt Food

TOKYO, Sep 09 (News On Japan) - Kirin has introduced a new piece of tableware designed to make low-salt meals taste stronger, addressing growing health concerns about excessive salt consumption in Japan.

The company announced on September 9th that it has developed a cup capable of enhancing the perception of saltiness and umami using a weak electric current. When food touches the electrode at the bottom of the cup and is consumed while holding it, a faint current flows through the food.

The current draws sodium ions—which normally disperse—closer together, making it easier for the tongue to sense saltiness.

A reporter who tested the product said, "From the moment it enters the mouth, the saltiness is noticeable, and it feels as if the flavor has deepened."

The launch comes as Japan grapples with high salt intake, a long-standing health issue. With health-consciousness on the rise globally, demand for reduced-salt solutions is expanding. Kirin plans to roll out the product overseas by 2026.

Source: TBS

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