Professor MIYASHITA Homei taking the stage at the launch presentation
The Electric Salt Spoon, a joint research product between MIYASHITA Homei Laboratory in the Department of Frontier Media Science, School of Interdisciplinary Mathematical Sciences, and Kirin Holdings Company, Limited, was launched from Kirin on May 20. On the same day, Kirin held a launch presentation at Nakano Central Park South. At the launch presentation, Professor MIYASHITA took the stage to explain the electric taste technology used in the Electric Salt Spoon.
Ms. SATO Ai of Kirin Holdings Company, Limited explaining the joint research with MIYASHITA Laboratory
The Electric Salt Spoon is a tableware-type device that enhances the taste of food, such as saltiness and umami, by sending a weak electric current through the tip of the spoon to the food. Even those who think a low-salt food is not good enough can feel a strong taste by using the Electric Salt Spoon.
The Electric Salt Spoon is a product that utilizes electric taste technology that MIYASHITA Laboratory has been studying for many years. MIYASHITA Laboratory and Kirin have been conducting joint research since 2019 with the aim of implementing it in society. The electric taste technology developed by MIYASHITA Laboratory uses a unique current waveform to control the movement of ions in food and enhance its taste. Kirin has developed a device that uses this technology because it believes it can provide products and services that improve the continuity of consumption of low-salt food. In 2024, the joint research was awarded the Science Council of Japan President’s Award at the Japan Open Innovation Prize of the Cabinet Office. (*1)
Professor MIYASHITA explaining the electric taste technology used in the Electric Salt Spoon
In 2011, MIYASHITA Laboratory published a paper with a vision to expand the taste of food experience by changing the taste of food and drink with a straw, chopsticks, and a fork with a weak electric current, which was awarded the Ig Nobel Prize in Nutrition in 2023. (*2)
Kirin is positioning the Electric Salt Spoon as a new business in the health science field. For now, the Electric Salt Spoon is sold in limited quantities at the official online store. They will, however, continue to promote the development of tableware other than spoons, as well as the development and proposal of low-salt food. They will also work with companies and local governments to utilize the Electric Salt Spoon and to expand the market.
*1 [Press Release] Received the Science Council of Japan President's Award at the "Japan Open Innovation Prize" event by the Cabinet Office for the development of a technology that enhances the salty taste of low-sodium food approximately 1.5 times via stimulation and for " Electric Salt " that uses this technology
*2 [Press Release] Professor MIYASHITA Homei, School of Interdisciplinary Mathematical Sciences at Meiji University and the other received the Ig Nobel Prize in Nutrition
*2 [Press Release] Professor MIYASHITA Homei, School of Interdisciplinary Mathematical Sciences at Meiji University and the other received the Ig Nobel Prize in Nutrition
Research of taste media in MIYASHITA Laboratory
MIYASHITA Laboratory is studying “taste media,” which can reproduce taste freely in the same way as video and music, considering the sense of taste as the same medium as visual and auditory senses.
In addition to the electric taste technology which was implemented in society by the Electric Salt Spoon, they are also promoting researches that embody the free thinking of students at the laboratory for development for social implementation, such as the Taste-Time Traveller: a taste AR device that adjusts time of food. (*3)
≪Japanese version≫