ELECTRIC CHOPSTICKS recreate the sensation of saltiness

Trying to reduce your salt intake? Japanese scientists develop ELECTRIC CHOPSTICKS that transmit sodium ions from food to your mouth to recreate the sensation of saltiness

  • The chopsticks enhance tastes using electrical stimulation and a wrist device
  • The device uses a weak electrical current to transmit sodium ions from food, through the chopsticks, to the mouth where they create a sense of saltiness
  • As a result, the salty taste enhances 1.5 times, according to the researchers

Whether it’s a decadent burger or a delicious bowl of noodles, many of the most popular dishes around the world are laden with salt. 

Now, scientists have come up with a method that could allow us to continue to enjoy salty tastes, while reducing the amount of salt in our meals. 

Researchers from Meiji University have developed electric chopsticks that transmit sodium ions to your mouth via a wristband, to recreate the sensation of saltiness.  

Researchers from Meiji University have developed electric chopsticks that transmit sodium ions to your mouth via a wristband, to recreate the sensation of saltiness

How much salt? 

Adults

Adults should eat no more than 6g of salt a day (2.4g sodium) – that’s around 1 teaspoon

Children 

1 to 3 years should eat no more than 2g salt a day (0.8g sodium)

4 to 6 years should eat no more than 3g salt a day (1.2g sodium)

7 to 10 years should eat no more than 5g salt a day (2g sodium)

11 years and over should eat no more than 6g salt a day (2.4g sodium)

Source: NHS 

Co-developed by Professor Homei Miyashita from Meiji University and beverage maker Kirin Holdings Co, the chopsticks enhance tastes using electrical stimulation and a mini-computer worn on a wristband.

The device uses a weak electrical current to transmit sodium ions from food, through the chopsticks, to the mouth where they create a sense of saltiness, said Professor Miyashita.

‘As a result, the salty taste enhances 1.5 times,’ he said.

The taste-enhancing chopsticks may have particular relevance in Japan, where the traditional diet favours salty tastes. 

The average Japanese adult consumes about 10 grams of salt per day, double the amount recommended by the World Health Organisation.

Excess sodium intake is related to increased incidence of high blood pressure, strokes and other ailments.

‘To prevent these diseases, we need to reduce the amount of salt we take,’ said Kirin researcher Ai Sato.

‘If we try to avoid taking less salt in a conventional way, we would need to endure the pain of cutting our favourite food from our diet, or endure eating bland food.’

Professor Miyashita and Kirin are refining their chopsticks prototype and hope to commercialise them as early as next year.

This isn’t the first time that Professor Miyashita and his lab have explored ways that technology can interact with and stimulate human sensory experiences. 

Last year, he developed a lickable TV screen that can imitate various food flavours. 

The device is called Taste the TV (TTTV) and contains a carousel of 10 flavour canisters that can spray taste samples on to the surface of the screen.

The different flavour profiles in the canisters can then combine to create tastes similar to those being shown on screen – for example coffee or pizza.

It is an experimental technology, with its developers expecting a commercial version to cost about £650 ($875). 

Japanese scientists develop a LICKABLE TV screen

This isn’t the first time that Professor Miyashita and his lab have explored ways that technology can interact with and stimulate human sensory experiences. 

Last year, he developed a lickable TV screen that can imitate various food flavours. 

The device is called Taste the TV (TTTV) and contains a carousel of 10 flavour canisters that can spray taste samples on to the surface of the screen.

The different flavour profiles in the canisters can then combine to create tastes similar to those being shown on screen – for example coffee or pizza.

It is an experimental technology, produced by Meiji University in Tokyo, Japan, with its developers expecting a commercial version to cost about £650 ($875). 

Japanese scientists have developed a television that can be licked, allowing viewers to taste the food being prepared on a cookery show, adding a layer of immersion

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