# Taste-Adjusting Chopsticks Kirin Holdings & Meiji University Revolutionize the Way We Enjoy Food By Kalin Ned | Published 2022-05-26 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tasteadjusting-chopsticks References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2022/05/26/taste-adjusting-chopsticks-device-food-saltier/) & [kirinholdings](https://www.kirinholdings.com/en/)  Kirin Holdings, a Japanese food and beverage company, has collaborated with researchers at Meiji University to develop a revolutionary set of utensils—taste-adjusting chopsticks. The innovation, which can make food taste about 1.5 times saltier than actuality through electrical stimulation, is essentially a wearable device that is connected to a pair of chopsticks. It is "designed to enhance the taste of low-sodium foods without diners having to add extra salt or compromise taste." Kirin Holdings and Meiji University surely are pioneering a "world's first" in the dining category. The current prototype consists of a wristband and connected chopsticks. The taste-adjusting chopsticks may be a game-changer for individuals who are on low-sodium diets, those looking for healthier alternatives to salt, as well as people who struggle with high sodium levels. Image Credit: Kirin Holdings ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.5/10 - Popularity: 87% | Activity: 97% | Freshness: 12% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Health](https://www.trendhunter.com/health) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Taste-adjusting Utensils:** The innovation of taste-adjusting utensils, such as chopsticks, provides a unique and healthier alternative to traditional salt. - **Wearable Dining Devices:** Connected utensils, such as the taste-adjusting chopsticks, represent a new market for wearable dining devices that can enhance the dining experience. - **Electrical Stimulation Dining:** The development of electrical stimulation technology, as utilized in the taste-adjusting chopsticks, opens up new opportunities for dining experiences that will continue to innovate the industry. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Food and Beverage:** The food and beverage industry can utilize taste-adjusting utensils to create a new market for low-sodium and healthier dining options. - **Wearable Technology:** The development and implementation of connected utensils, such as taste-adjusting chopsticks, presents opportunities for the wearable technology industry to expand into the dining market. - **Health & Wellness:** The taste-adjusting utensils, with their ability to enhance low-sodium dining experiences, offer possibilities for health and wellness industries to create and promote healthier eating habits. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Saltiness-Enhancing Electric Chopsticks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/electric-chopsticks.md) - [Tastebud-Stimulating Spoons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/electric-salt-spoon.md) - [Salt-Mimicking Kitchenwares](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/electric-bowl-and-spoon.md) - [Virtual Flavor Simulators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/taste-in-virtual.md) - [Multisensory Television Screens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/taste-the-tv.md) - [Aesthetically Functional Chopsticks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/restless-chopsticks-tableware.md) - [Micronized Salt Potato Chips](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/saltme-potato-chips.md) - [AI-Created Japanese Cocktails](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kirin-jojo-shochu-soda.md) - [Flavor-Enhancing Food Ranges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/holland-barrett-with-life-kitchen.md)