Electric chopsticks help people eat less salt

J-STORIES - Japanese cuisine is famously healthy, but its Achilles’ heel is high salt content, leading to health problems such as high blood pressure. Many people must avoid salty foods or buy reduced-salt products that sometimes compromise on taste.

But what if there was a way to trick the taste buds into thinking food is saltier than it is? That’s the aim of a research project conducted by Meiji University and Kirin Holdings, both based in Tokyo.

A pair of electric chopsticks.      Source: Kirin Holdings — A pair of electric chopsticks. Source: Kirin Holdings

This April, sales began of the researchers’ “electric chopsticks,” a digital update to the ancient eating utensil. The chopsticks deliver a small electric charge that strengthens tastes such as saltiness or umami. The electric shock is too small to be noticed but adjusts the movement of taste-producing sodium and other ions in the foods.

In clinical trials with people on low-salt diets, the device could increase perceived saltiness one and a half times. This was a world first

Professor Homei Miyashita, who has researched so-called “electric taste” for over 10 years, told J-Stories that they have a good understanding of the scientific principles behind producing taste.

Professor Homei Miyashita says that some people were nervous about putting electric chopsticks in their mouth, but became more enthusiastic after using them.      Source: Meiji University — Professor Homei Miyashita says that some people were nervous about putting electric chopsticks in their mouth, but became more enthusiastic after using them. Source: Meiji University

“If we combine that knowledge with reduced-salt foods and aim for a synergistic effect between reduced-salt foods and our electric taste device,” he said, “we can increase the perception of taste more than one and a half times.”

In that way, it could be possible to more than halve the amount of salt in food, he said.

Kirin Holdings said, “We would first like to make practical use of the technology within Japan as one way to prevent the occurrence or worsening of lifestyle diseases.”

The researchers aim to commercialize the chopsticks device for general consumers by around 2023 to 2024. They have already made an electric Chinese-style spoon and bowl. And they also plan to make electric versions of Western cutlery, such as forks and spoons.