— By Andru Shively — 

The Land of the Rising Sun might really be called the land of rising salt. The Japanese reportedly take in more than twice the amount recommended by the WHO, yet breaking tasty habits can be futile, with a low-salt diet appealing to few. But maybe all that is needed is just a little push, or a little spark.

To “address social issues and consumer needs”, Japanese beer and beverage company Kirin Holdings (Tokyo; www.kirinholdings.com) has developed the Electric Salt Spoon, which is said to noticeably enhance the saltiness of a low-salt meal. A weak electric current passing through the tip of the utensil redirects sodium ions present in the mouth and concentrates them onto the tongue, thereby increasing the perception of saltiness.

On the market since last year, the drinks giant demoed its flavour-enhancing utensil at the Consumer Electronics Show 2025 earlier this month, where consumers got to experience the electric taste for themselves. Assuming the shock of its JPY 19,800 (almost EUR 125) price tag can be absorbed, we think the spoon would be perfect for a helmet-bowl of udon noodles, which thankfully we could quite literally take with a pinch of salt.