Tech Desk 
Jan 06, 2025
Japan’s Kirin Holdings, a renowned beverage manufacturing company, has unveiled its groundbreaking electronic salt spoon at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025.
The electronic salt spoon is designed to enhance the flavour of food without the need to add extra salt.
Kirin’s electronic salt spoon was initially launched in Japan in 2024 as a limited-edition product, priced at approximately £100. The company now plans to expand its distribution globally in the coming years.
How does the electronic salt spoon work?
According to the company, the electronic salt spoon uses a gentle electric current to concentrate sodium ions in food, amplifying the salty flavours in low-sodium dishes.
Kirin’s spoon represents the first commercial application of a technology that received the 2023 Ig Nobel Prize, a satirical award celebrating unconventional scientific research.
The researchers behind the technology originally published their findings in 2011 and have since developed a range of utensils, including spoons, forks, and chopsticks, that employ electric currents to enhance food flavours.
This innovation is particularly relevant in Japan, where adults consume more than twice the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended daily salt intake. Excessive sodium consumption has been linked to an increase in health issues such as high blood pressure and strokes.
