Develop and release products onto the market that support the extension of healthy living in a super-aged society

Unleash new potentials for protein.

Commitment 1: We commit to not leaving behind people who are vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies due to food allergies. Although accurate data on the food allergy prevalence rate for all age groups is not available worldwide, the rate is highest in infancy. In Japan, about 1 in 10 infants and 1 in 20 preschoolers suffer from food allergies.[1] Many reports in the world show an increase in the prevalence rate.[2] A well-balanced nutritional intake requires a diet made from a wide variety of ingredients that can be procured sustainably in the region, but meal choices for people with food allergies are narrow, and it is difficult for them to have a well-balanced diet. People with severe food allergies need meals that avoid even the slightest risk of contamination. We learnt about this issue from the voices of consumers 25 years ago, and we are working to improve quality of life (QOL) by expanding our products and services centred on meals and by staying close to patients and their families. Specifically, we manufacture foods that do not contain certain ingredients that must be listed on food labels in Japan as of 2021 (egg, milk, wheat, buckwheat, peanut, shrimp and crab) whilst maintaining their nutritional value and deliciousness under a strict control system, expanding the dietary choices for patients and contributing to nutritional improvement and their satisfaction. We will also support the provision of allergy-friendly meals manufactured by other companies by developing test kits that can check for the existence of specific food allergens. As for the expansion of dietary options for people with food allergies, diversification of usage scenes through the development of new products, such as one-meal types, baby food or shelf-stable food, and establishment of high-hospitality points of purchase will be regarded as the ‘concrete action plan,’ and the ‘primary indicator’ will be the shipment amount of food allergy-related products. The ‘baseline-level indicator’ is the shipment value of ¥1.37 billion in FY2020, the target will be ¥4 billion and the ‘period’ will be FY2030.

[1] Ebisawa M, Ito K, Fujisawa T. Japanese guidelines for food allergy 2017. Allergol Int 2017; 66(2): 248–64.

[2] Sicherer SH, Sampson HA. Food allergy: a review and update on epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention, and management. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2018; 141(1): 41–58.

Commitment 2: Protein is essential for people to live. We have been prioritising this nutrient since our foundation. As it becomes increasingly important to address food shortages and diversified lifestyles due to the global population increase, we will expand the potential of protein. Specifically, we will promote product development that diversifies protein intake options, research and the development of new alternative proteins. The ‘concrete action plan’ will be to expand sales of highly sustainable plant-based protein products and to explore new alternative proteins. The ‘primary indicator’ will be the number of items and shipment amounts of plant-based protein products in our processed food business, as well as the commercialisation of new protein products. The ‘baseline-level indicator’ will be 5 items of plant-based products as of April 2020. The target is to expand plant-based products to 30 items, achieving ¥10 billion in shipments, along with the commercialisation of new protein products, and FY2030 will be the ‘period.’

Commitment 3: We commit to not leaving behind the elderly, who are vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies due to a decline in cognitive function. It is difficult for them to select well-balanced food. In Japan, the number of elderly aged 65 or older is 36 million, accounting for 28.9% of the national population and continuing to set a new record.[3] Whilst efforts to extend healthy life expectancy in this situation are a national issue, we will also show the way for other countries amid predictions of an ageing population in the world. The key to extending healthy life expectancy is to maintain exercise and awareness functions. In Japan, the medical check that measured the lowered condition (frailty) for all late-stage elderly aged 75 or older was also started last year. We contribute to the improvement of QOL by researching and commercialising new materials that improve cognitive functions whilst providing ‘the joy of eating.’ We have obtained a patent for the improvement of cognitive function (retaining memories) in the research of imidazole dipeptide.[4] The commercialisation and promotion of these products is defined as the ‘concrete action plan,’ and the ‘primary indicator’ will be the supply amount on a raw material basis (supply amount divided by a reference intake of 500mg, which is the amount expected to exert the effect). The ‘baseline’ is none because it is under development, but the target will be an annual supply equivalent to 3 million meals, with FY2026 set as the ‘period.’ We will contribute to the extension of healthy life expectancy in the super-ageing society by maintaining people’s exercise functions through the provision of protein – our core business – and improving cognitive functions (retaining memories) through this initiative.

[3] National Institute of Population and Social Security Research. Population Projections for Japan: 2017. Tokyo: National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, 2017.

[4] Imidazole Dipeptide for Treating Dementia Due to Aging or Cerebral Atrophy. Patent no 6588666.