Thai Salt Cuts Sodium 40% Without Losing Taste
A doctoral student in Thailand just won a national innovation prize for creating salt that cuts sodium by up to 40% while tasting just as salty. SmartSalt+ uses nanotechnology to help fight diet-related diseases without asking people to sacrifice flavor.
Imagine eating your favorite salty snacks without the health risks. That's exactly what Paul Patsapong Chomchey created, and his invention just earned Thailand's top startup honor at the TED Youth Startup IGNITE Forum 2026.
SmartSalt+ looks like regular salt and tastes like regular salt. But thanks to Nano-Chitosan Technology, it contains 30 to 40% less sodium while delivering 100% of the salty flavor people love.
Chomchey, a doctoral student at Chulalongkorn University studying technology and innovation management, developed the product to tackle a massive health problem. Excessive sodium intake drives heart disease, stroke, and other non-communicable diseases that strain healthcare systems worldwide.
His innovation beat nine other startup teams from across Thailand to claim the IGNITE Champion 2026 title at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. Judges praised SmartSalt+ for aligning perfectly with modern health trends while offering clear economic value.
The journey to victory started with simple everyday observations. Chomchey noticed how hard it was for people to cut salt from their diets because reducing sodium usually means sacrificing taste.
Working with Thawatchai Tipoud from INNOSOLVTECH International and supported by Thailand's Technology and Innovation-Based Enterprise Development Fund, Chomchey transformed his research into a commercial product. The TED Fund provided crucial early-stage funding that made the leap from lab to market possible.
Before winning nationally, SmartSalt+ already earned a Gold Medal and Special Award at the Silicon Valley International Invention Festival 2025 in the United States. The international recognition showed that health innovations from Thailand can compete on the world stage.
The Ripple Effect
Chomchey credits the competition and expert mentorship with changing how he thought about innovation. He stopped focusing solely on making the product and started prioritizing what users actually need and what the market values.
That shift made all the difference. Now SmartSalt+ stands ready to reach millions of people who want to protect their health without giving up foods they enjoy.
The innovation could help reduce national healthcare costs by preventing diet-related diseases before they start. When people can eat healthier without noticing a difference, the barrier to better nutrition disappears.
Thailand now has a globally competitive health product that proves deep-tech innovation can solve everyday problems while creating real commercial opportunity.
Based on reporting by Google News - Innovation Technology
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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