This one also crops up...28 Apr 2024 14:15
Https://patents.google.com/patent/US9491961B2/en?oq=9%2c491%2c961
as a result of the most recent application granted to Microsalt...
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20210037865A1/en?oq=US+2021%2f0037865+A1
where it is cited.
The US9491961 document makes for an interesting read in as much as its description, which seems to offer greater clarity compared to the Microsalt one, of the resulting product suggests that hollow spheres of salt, presumably bound by the carrier are formed.
The compositions proposed, 15g salt vs 1g carrier per 100mL solvent the solvent being water, is also interesting. Microsalt's web pages suggest that their raw product only achieves a 50% reduction in salt and this alternative seems to be much better.
US9491961 also details the addition of other flavourings, onion, basil and chilli for example, to the product. I was wondering why Microsalt have not considered a similar extension of their product but I suppose that this 2015 patent is still in force so there is not much they could do in terms of being inventive and the presence of that granted patent might stop them anyway unless they made deals.
On top of that US9491961 specifically mentions a product specifically intended for use in the production of bread. Here they are using fats to make the product insoluble. I had wondered about the Microsalt product dissolving in water. It looks like these other people may have got there first.
Going back to...
https://www.lse.co.uk/media/SALT/rick-guiney-ceo-of-microsalt-explains-why-they-are-targeting-the-largest-food-b2b-manufacturers-66mp9ug6nr2vngy.html
Rick Guiney seems to get a bit excited about the news that a bread manufacturer woke them up to this possibility which seems a bit odd given a Patent cited in their own Patent told them that was possible. Perhaps Rick does not pay too much attention to what is going on elsewhere,,,
Sorry it was Konrad Dobrowski...
https://youtu.be/H3nM2EPMdsI?t=764
Obviously my concerns here are that although Microsalt may have a certain level of IP protection when compared to what else is or may be available via research papers and IP held by other entities they may not be on solid grounds in respect of protection given other routes appear to be available and in some cases appear to be closed off to them.
Ultimately it appears that the business is very much dependent on time to market and first mover advantage and the concern should be that there is the possibility that once they have made others aware of the possibilities those customers might look for other or more extensive solutions and abandon Microsalt.
I believe they do mention such possibilities in their listing prospectus and, hunting about the place, those warning appear to be very real.