Japan makes electronic chopsticks that make food 1.5 times more salty

Electronic chopsticks use a weak electric current to regulate sodium ions and alter the perception of taste so that people on a low-salt diet still find food delicious.

Professor Homei Miyashita at Meiji University (Japan) collaborated with beverage company Kirin to develop electronic chopsticks with the ability to enhance salty taste through electrical stimulation and a mini computer mounted on a wristband, Guardian today 19 /4 reported. The device uses a weak electric current to transport sodium ions from the food through the chopsticks to the mouth and create a salty sensation.

A Kirin employee uses chopsticks that can enhance the flavor of food by electrical stimulation in Tokyo on April 15.

The team says they will finalize the prototype and hope to make the new chopsticks available to consumers next year. It is likely to gain popularity in Japan, where some traditional dishes are high in salt due to the use of ingredients such as soy sauce and miso.

The average Japanese adult consumes about 10 grams of salt per day, twice the amount recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Ministry of Health of this country has proposed to reduce the daily salt intake to a maximum of 7.5 grams for men and 6.5 grams for women.

"Electronic chopsticks use a very weak electrical current - not strong enough to affect the human body - to modulate the function of ions such as sodium chloride and sodium glutamate in order to change the perception of taste, making food flavorful. stronger or weaker," Kirin said.

Experiments on people following a low-sodium diet showed that chopsticks increased the saltiness of low-sodium foods by about 1.5 times. Participants who ate a reduced-sodium miso soup commented that the dish was enhanced in strength, sweetness, and overall flavor.

Consuming a lot of salt can contribute to high blood pressure, the biggest cause of heart attacks and strokes. "To prevent these diseases, we need to reduce our salt intake. But if we try to reduce salt in the traditional way, we will have to endure the miserable feeling of removing our favorite foods from the menu or when eat bland food," said researcher Ai Sato at Kirin.

Miyashita's lab is exploring other ways to apply new technology to the workings of the senses. The team of experts here also created lickable TV screens with the ability to simulate the taste of many types of food.