By Masayuki Takata / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer
Kirin Holdings Co. has begun selling a cup that uses a weak electric current to make low-sodium food taste more salty, the second product in its Electric Salt tableware line, via its official online store.
An updated version of the Electric Salt Spoon has also been released. Starting in November, the products will also be available at specialty household goods stores and electronics retailers. The company also aims to enter the wider Asian market by 2026.
A launch event was held in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Excessive salt intake in daily life can lead to high blood pressure, potentially leading to the development of such conditions as heart disease, kidney disease and strokes. However, people who switch to a low-sodium diet can become dissatisfied with the food and have a smaller appetite due to perceived blandness. The Electric Salt product line was developed in response to demand for better tasting low-sodium food.
According to Kirin Holdings, the mechanism to enhance perceived saltiness involves a weak electric current being transmitted from electrodes inside the cup or on the spoon to the food. This causes sodium ions to gather on the tongue, enhancing the salty taste by up to about 50%, the company said.
The spoon was originally launched in May 2024 and sold 2,650 units by December, over seven times the initial projection. Its shape has been redesigned to improve usability.
The cup is priced at 26,950 yen and the new spoon at 24,750 yen, both tax included. The electrical current can be switched between three levels, allowing users to vary their eating experience, the company said.
Kirin Holdings plans to expand the product lineup in the future.
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This article is from The Yomiuri Shimbun. Neither Dow Jones Newswires, MarketWatch, Barron's nor The Wall Street Journal were involved in the creation of this content.
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September 10, 2025 08:51 ET (12:51 GMT)
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