Japanese food and beverage company Kirin has teamed up with a group of scientists at Tokyo's Meiji University to develop electric chopsticks that are capable of boosting diners' perception of saltiness in food that actually has reduced amounts of salt.
These electric chopsticks work in conjunction with a control device and a power supply that can be worn on the wrist. Using a very mild degree of electric stimulation, these chopsticks are said to be able to boost the activity of sodium chloride ions, which are implicated in salty taste, and sodium glutamate, which form the foundation of sweet taste. By manipulating the respective ions, the chopsticks alter diners' perception of taste.
Going forward, the innovators of these electric chopsticks say they will look to continue to tweak and evolve the technology and design of the chopsticks in order to support healthy and low-sodium eating habits.
Image Credit: Kirin Holdings
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Electric Taste Manipulation
- Innovative technology that changes perception of taste using electric chopsticks and ions manipulation.
- Health-enabling Utensils
- Utensils designed to support and promote healthy eating habits and low-sodium diets.
- Sustainability-focused Cutlery
- Eco-friendly utensils that encourage sustainable consumption patterns and reduced food waste.
Where This Applies
- Food and Beverage
- Companies can explore potential applications for electric taste manipulation within the food and beverage industry, such as enhancing flavors of reduced-sodium products and creating unique dining experiences.
- Health and Wellness
- Medical and healthcare industries can benefit from the use of health-enabling utensils to support healthy eating habits and promote wellness.
- Environmental Sustainability
- Sustainability-focused cutlery can benefit the environment and promote sustainable consumption patterns, creating opportunities for the manufacturing and retail industries to step in and offer such products.
