TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Kirin Holdings Company, Limited (Kirin Holdings) (TOKYO: 2503) has been honored in two categories—Digital Health and Accessibility & Age Tech—at the CES Innovation Awards® 2025 for its innovative new product, the Electric Salt Spoon. This unique utensil-shaped device enhances the saltiness and umami flavors of low-sodium foods, providing a groundbreaking solution for healthier eating. This achievement marks the first-ever recognition for the Kirin Group at the CES Innovation Awards. Additionally, Kirin Holdings will make its debut as an exhibitor at CES 2025.
- About CES®
CES is an annual event held every January in Las Vegas, USA showcasing the latest in electronic devices and services. As the world’s largest technology trade show, it has a rich history that dates back over 50 years to its founding in 1967. The CES Innovation Awards honor products and services with exceptional design and technology. The CES Innovation Awards 2025 received a record-breaking 3,400+ submissions.
Note: The CES Innovation Awards are based on descriptive materials submitted to the judges. CTA did not verify the accuracy of any submission or any claims made, nor did it test the item to which the award was given.
- About the Two Award Categories
Digital Health: This category highlights devices related to healthcare and wellness, including those that assist with health management, analysis, disease detection, and treatment effectiveness.
Accessibility & Age Tech: This category recognizes products, services, and technologies that prioritize accessibility for people with disabilities, as well as innovative features that promote the independence of elderly individuals.
- About the Electric Salt Spoon
The Electric Salt Spoon is a utensil-shaped device designed to enhance the saltiness and umami flavors of low-sodium foods*1, such as soups and curries, using a mild electrical current. It was launched in May 2024*2. Developed in collaboration with the Miyashita Laboratory of Prof. Homei Miyashita at the Department of Frontier Media Science, School of Interdisciplinary Mathematical Sciences, Meiji University, the product features a unique electrical waveform technology*4 that boosts the saltiness of low-sodium foods by approximately 1.5 times*3. Moving forward, Kirin Holdings plans to partner with businesses and local governments to expand the product’s use and market, as well as explore its application in other types of tableware and the development of low-sodium meal options.
*1 3rd Neurostimulation Interface Research Meeting (March 2023) “The Effect of Electrical Taste Waveforms That Enhance the Saltiness of Low-salt Foods on Umami.” Individual experiences may vary, and perceptions may differ depending on the type of dish.
*2 Kirin Holdings News Release, May 20, 2024: Kirin Holdings will begin online sales of “Electric Salt Spoon”, a spoon that uses electricity to enhance salty and umami taste, on May 20.
https://www.kirinholdings.com/en/newsroom/release/2024/0520_01.html
*3 Evaluation of saltiness intensity between samples resembling regular food and those with 30% reduced salt content.
The test was conducted using chopsticks equipped with Electric Salt technology (current range: 0.1–0.5mA). In a survey of 31 men and women aged 40–65 who have experience with or are currently reducing salt intake, 29 out of 31 participants reported that the saltiness of the test food increased.
*4 Kirin Holdings News Release, April 11, 2022: A World First! Research Confirms Perceived Taste Change Via Electric Stimulation, Leading to Development of ‘Taste-Adjusting Chopsticks’
https://www.kirinholdings.com/en/newsroom/release/2022/0411_01.html
- Booth Overview
Dates: January 7 – 10, 2025
*The booth will also be featured at CES Unveiled Las Vegas on January 5.
Location: Las Vegas Convention Center, Eureka Park at the Venetian Expo
Electric Salt Booth: Tech West, Venetian Expo, Halls A-D — 51320 — Food Tech
Official CES Website: https://www.ces.tech/
- Award Winner’s Comment: Ms. Ai Sato, New Business Group, Health Science Division, Kirin Holdings
“The Electric Salt Spoon was developed with the core philosophy of “Delicious meals for everyone,” addressing social challenges and meeting the needs of consumer seeking reduced-sodium diets. Excessive salt intake is a significant global health issue. I am truly honored that the vision and technological advancements behind the Electric Salt Spoon have been recognized, and we are grateful to receive this award. At the same time, I view this as a sign of the expectations for the future. We will continue to drive our business forward, delivering the value of health and happiness through food to customers around the world.”
The Kirin Group has set forth its long-term management vision, Kirin Group Vision 2027, with the goal of becoming a global leader in CSV*5 across the Food & Beverages to the Pharmaceuticals domains, contributing to people’s health through the growth of its Health Science Business. The Electric Salt Spoon aims to offer customers enjoyable, delicious, and healthy eating habits, working toward a healthier and happier society.
*5 Creating Shared Value. Combined added value for consumers as well as for society at large.
About Kirin Holdings
Kirin Holdings Company, Limited is an international company that operates in the Food & Beverages domain (Food & Beverages businesses), Pharmaceuticals domain (Pharmaceuticals businesses), and Health Science domain (Health Science business), both in Japan and across the globe.
Kirin Holdings can trace its roots to Japan Brewery which was established in 1885. Japan Brewery became Kirin Brewery in 1907. Since then, the company expanded its business with fermentation and biotechnology as its core technologies, and entered the pharmaceutical business in the 1980s, all of which continue to be global growth centers. In 2007, Kirin Holdings was established as a pure holding company and is currently focusing on boosting its Health Science domain.
Under the Kirin Group Vision 2027 (KV 2027), a long-term management plan launched in 2019, the Kirin Group aims to become a global leader in CSV*, creating value across our world of Food & Beverages to Pharmaceuticals. Going forward, the Kirin Group will continue to leverage its strengths to create both social and economic value through its businesses, with the aim of achieving sustainable growth in corporate value.
* Creating Shared Value. Combined added value for consumers as well as for society at large.
Contacts
Press Contact
Corporate Communication Department Kirin Holdings Company, Limited
Nakano Central Park South, 4-10-2 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
https://www.kirinholdings.com/en/
kirin-cc@kirin.co.jp
