The invention allows for a reduction in the amount of salt topically applied to a food product with an oil layer on its outer surface, without adversely affecting the taste of the food product. Salt particles with a particle size greater than the thickness of the oil layer are topically applied to the food product. Because substantially all of the salt particles protrude from the oil layer, they provide a saltiness perception having no meaningful difference from the saltiness perception provided by a control salt applied at higher levels.
