TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 25, 2024--
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.
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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.
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.
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
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/
“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.
The Electric Salt Spoon (Graphic: Business Wire)
The CES Innovation Awards 2025 (Graphic: Business Wire)
JERUSALEM (AP) — A baby girl froze to death overnight in Gaza, while Israel and Hamas accused each other of complicating ceasefire efforts that could wind down the 14-month war.
The 3-week old baby was the third to die from the cold in Gaza's tent camps in recent days, said doctors. The deaths underscore the squalid conditions, with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians crammed into often ramshackle tents after fleeing Israeli bombardment and offensives.
Israel’s bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza have killed over 45,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its count.
The offensive has caused widespread destruction and displaced some 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people, often multiple times. Hundreds of thousands are packed into tent camps along the coast as the cold, wet winter sets in. Aid groups have struggled to deliver food and supplies and say there are shortages of blankets, warm clothing and wood for fires.
Israel has increased the amount of aid it allows into the territory, reaching an average of 130 trucks a day so far this month, up from around 70 a day in October and November. Still, the amount remains well below than previous months and the U.N. says it is unable to distribute more than half the aid because Israeli forces deny permission to move within Gaza or because of rampant lawlessness and theft from trucks.
The father of 3-week-old Sila Mahmoud al-Faseeh wrapped her in a blanket to try and keep her warm in their tent in the Muwasi area outside Khan Younis, but it wasn't enough, he told The Associated Press. Mahmoud al-Faseeh, said the tent was not sealed from the wind and the ground was cold, as temperatures Tuesday night dropped to 9 degrees Celsius (48 degrees Fahrenheit.) Muwasi is a desolate area of dunes and farmland on Gaza’s Mediterranean coast.
“It was very cold overnight and as adults we couldn’t even take it. We couldn’t stay warm,” he said. Sila woke up crying three times overnight and in the morning they found her unresponsive, her body stiff, he said.
“She was like wood,” said al-Faseeh. They rushed her to a field hospital where doctors tried to revive her, but her lungs had already deteriorated. Images of Sila taken by the AP showed the little girl with purple lips, her pale skin blotchy.
Ahmed al-Farra, director of the children’s ward at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, confirmed that the baby died of hypothermia. He said two other babies – one 3 days old, the other a month old – had been brought to the hospital over the past 48 hours after dying of hypothermia.
Meanwhile hopes of a ceasefire looked complicated Wednesday with Israel and Hamas trading accusations of delaying an agreement.
In recent weeks, the two sides appeared to be inching toward a deal that would bring home dozens of hostages being held in Gaza, but differences have emerged.
Although Israel and Hamas have expressed optimism that progress was being made toward a deal, sticking points remain over the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, people involved in the talks say.
On Wednesday, Hamas accused Israel of introducing new conditions related to the withdrawal from Gaza, the prisoners and the return of displaced people, which it said was delaying the deal.
Israel's government accused Hamas of reneging on reneging on understandings that have already been reached.” Still, both sides said discussions are ongoing.
Israel’s negotiating team, which includes members from its intelligence agencies and the military, returned from Qatar Tuesday evening for internal consultations, following a week of what it called “significant negotiations."
During its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, Hamas and other groups took about 250 people hostages and brought them to Gaza. A previous truce in November 2023 freed more than 100 hostages, while others have been rescued or their remains have been recovered over the past year.
Israel says about 100 hostages remain in Gaza — at least a third of whom it believes were killed during the Oct. 7 attack or died in captivity.
Sporadic talks have taken place for a year, but in recent weeks there's been a renewed push to reach a deal.
President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office next month for his second term, has demanded the immediate release of Israeli hostages, saying on social media that if they're not freed before he is sworn in, there will be “HELL TO PAY.”
Families of the hostages are becoming increasingly angry, calling on the Israeli government for a ceasefire before Trump is sworn in.
After Israel’s high-level negotiation team returned from Doha this week, hostage families called an emergency press conference in Tel Aviv, pleading for a ceasefire and a complete end to the war.
Shir Siegel, the daughter of Israeli-American Keith Siegel, whose mother was released after more than 50 days in captivity, said every delay could endanger their lives. “There are moments when every second is fateful, and this is one of those moments,” she said.
The agreement would take effect in phases and include a halt in fighting, an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, and a surge in aid to the besieged Gaza Strip, according to Egyptian, Hamas and American officials. The last phase would include the release of any remaining hostages, an end to the war and talks on reconstruction.
Goldenberg reported from Tel Aviv and Khaled from Cairo, Egypt. Melanie Lidman also contributed from Tel Aviv and Lee Keith from Cairo.
Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Bodies of victims of an Israeli strike on a home in Deir al-Balah late Saturday are prepared for the funeral outside the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. At least eight people were killed according to the hospital which received the bodies.(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinians look at home destroyed by an Israeli strike late Saturday in Deir al-Balah Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. At least eight people were killed according to the hospital which received the bodies.(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Relatives and neighbors, two of them holding guns, walk during the funeral procession of a victim of an Israeli strike on a home late Saturday that killed at least eight people, in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. Some families in Gaza are armed to protect their homes from thieves in the camps.(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Neighbours watch the funeral procession of the victims of an Israeli strike on a home late Saturday, in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. At least eight people were killed according to the hospital which received the bodies.(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Relatives and neighbours mourn over the body of one of the victims of an Israeli strike on a hom4 late Saturday as they are prepared for the funeral outside the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. At least eight people were killed according to the hospital which received the bodies.(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinians look at home destroyed by an Israeli strike late Saturday in Deir al-Balah Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. At least eight people were killed according to the hospital which received the bodies.(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinians pray over the bodies of the victims of an Israeli strike on a home late Saturday before the funeral outside the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. At least eight people were killed according to the hospital which received the bodies.(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
