研究人員研發出可以改變味道的電子筷子大綱

Cutlery which delivers an electric shock to change the taste of food could help cut down salt in fast food, researchers have said.

研究人員表示，通過電擊改變食物味道的餐具，將有助於降低快餐的含鹽量。

Scientists have developed a pair of chopsticks, that can make food taste saltier, sour or bitter without the need for extra seasoning.

科學家日前研究出了一雙能讓食物嚐起來更鹹、更酸或更苦的筷子，無需增加調味料用量。

They are also working on a spoon and fork that could make food taste spicier or sweeter.

他們還在研究能讓食物嚐起來更辣或更甜的勺子和叉子。

This "digital seasoning" technology could allow diners to tinker with the taste of their food as they eat so it suits them.

這種“數字調味料”技術能讓用餐者在進食時調整食物口味，以滿足自己的要求。

It could also help food manufacturers and restaurants to reduce the amount of salt they put into food without compromising taste.

它也有助於幫助食品製造商和餐館在不影響口味的情況下減少食物中鹽的用量。

The utensils work by delivering pulses of electricity to the tip of the tongue to stimulate the taste buds.

這種餐具的原理是向舌尖發送電脈衝，刺激味蕾。

Dr Nimesha Ranasinghe, an assistant professor of computer science at the University of Maine who led the work on the electric cutlery, said: "This technology is aimed at overlaying a virtual taste sensation. Depending on the food or beverage, it will augment the flavor. For example, when we eat mashed potato by applying an additional layer of electric salt, the overall flavor is enhanced."

領導了這項電子餐具工作的緬因大學計算機科學助理教授尼梅沙·拉納辛哈博士稱：“這項技術是爲了附加虛擬味覺。它會根據不同的食物或飲料增加風味。例如，如果你在食用土豆泥時額外增加一層電子鹽，整體味道就會得到加強。”

Some Chinese takeaway food and ready meals were recently found to contain up to 11 times more salt than a bag of crisps - more than half an adults daily allowance. Salt is known to be linked to serious health problems like heart disease and stroke.

一些中餐外賣食物和速食被發現含鹽量是一袋薯片的11倍還多--這一數字超過了成人每日推薦鹽攝入量的一半。而目前人們已經知道鹽與心臟病和中風等嚴重健康問題有關。

But using a pair of electric chopsticks could help cut salt levels without leaving it tasting bland, said Dr Ranasinghe.

拉納辛哈博士稱，使用一雙電子筷子有助於減少用鹽量，同時食物吃起來又不會寡淡無味。

The technology, which Dr Ranasinghe initially developed while at the University of Singapore, works by installing two electrodes into each chopstick or the end of a spoon. These send a weak current through the tip of the tongue when they touch it to stimulate the taste buds.

拉納辛哈博士最初於新加坡開始這項技術的研究，該技術在每根筷子上或勺子頭上安裝兩個電極。這使它們在接觸舌頭時向舌尖發出微弱電流，刺激味蕾。

By controlling the frequency, amplitude and strength of the electric current, the researchers can stimulate either sourness, saltiness and bitterness. They say up to 80% of people experience changes in saltiness and sourness with the devices and 70% can sense changes in bitterness.

研究人員可通過控制電流的頻率、幅度和強度刺激酸味、鹹味和苦味等味覺。他們表示，80%的人可通過這一裝置感受到鹹味和酸味變化，70%的人可感受到苦味變化。

Dr Ranasinghe, whose work is published in the journal Food Research International, initially developed a fork that could replicate saltiness but has since developed a spoon, chopsticks and a soup bowl that can trigger all three tastes.

拉納辛哈博士的研究發表在《國際食品研究》雜誌上，他最初開發了一款可以複製鹹味的叉子，後來又研發了可以激發全部三種味道的勺子、筷子和湯碗。

He said he was also working on ways of replicating sweetness and spiciness by rapidly heating and cooling the tongue.

他表示，自己正在研究通過迅速加熱或冷卻舌頭複製甜味和辣味的方法。