Swiss food company Nestlé is collaborating with US bio-tech company Chromocell Corporation to identify compounds which can be used to enhance taste in foods, as part of its efforts to develop alternatives to salt.
Chromocell will use its proprietary 'Chromovert' technology to screen several ingredients to determine if they offer similar tastes to salt.
Nestlé is investing $15m in the research, as part of its efforts to enhance the nutritional profile and taste of its products.
Nestlé's Food Strategic Business Unit research and development manager Sean Westcott said that the collaboration with Chromocell is about finding ways to recreate the tastes consumers expect from culinary dishes, but with reduced salt.
The collaboration is expected to last for three years atleast. According to Nestlé, over the last one decade, it has removed more than 12,000 tons of salt from its food products across the world.
According to World Health Organization recommendations, an adult should consume only one teaspoon of salt every day.
