Kirin presents its electric salt spoon at CES 2025.
On the first day of CES 2025, Kirin Holdings, a Japanese company renowned for its beers and beverages, unveiled its innovative electronic spoon that enhances the dining experience.
During the first night of CES 2025, Kirin Holdings, a Japanese company known for its beers and beverages, unveiled its innovative electronic spoon that enhances the flavor of food by increasing its salinity. According to the company, this utensil uses a weak electrical current to concentrate sodium molecules in food, thereby enhancing the umami and salty flavors of low-sodium dishes. In 2024, a limited quantity of the Salt Electronic Spoon went on sale in Japan for approximately 127 US dollars, and Kirin plans to market the device globally in the coming years.
The company claims that this gadget can significantly increase the "saltiness" of dishes without the need to add sodium. At CES Unveiled in Las Vegas, a large crowd sampled soup using Kirin's spoon. While many were intrigued, the idea of sharing a utensil at a technology conference isn’t very appealing to some.
Despite the spoon seeming improbable, there are studies to back its effectiveness. This launch marks the first commercialization of a technology that received the 2023 Ig Nobel Prize, a satirical award recognizing unusual scientific research. The researchers initially published their thesis in 2011 and have developed other instruments such as forks and chopsticks that also transmit electrical currents to food. Kirin has developed this spoon with the aim of helping people reduce their salt consumption, a significant concern in Japan, where the adult population consumes more than double the intake recommended by the World Health Organization.