Unleash new potentials for protein

[1st Commitment]We commit ourselves to avoid leaving people who are vulnerable to nutritional intakes due to food allergies behind.Although accurate data on food allergy prevalence rate in all age groups are not available worldwide, it is the highest rate in infancy period. In Japan, about 1 in 10 infants and 1 in 20 preschoolers suffer from them. *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 learned about this issue from the voices of consumers 25 years ago, and we are working to improve QOL by expanding our products and services centered on meals, by staying close to the patients and their families. Specifically, we manufacture foods that do not contain specified ingredients which must be listed on food labels in Japan as of 2021 (egg, milk, wheat, buckwheat, peanut, shrimp, and crab) while maintaining their nutritional value and deliciousness under a strict control system, expanding the dietary choices for the 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 use scenes through the development of new products such as a 1-meal type, baby food, or shelf-stable food, and establishment of high-hospitality points of purchase will be regarded as "concrete action plan," and "primary indicator" will be the shipment amount of food allergy-related products. The "baseline level of indicator" is the shipment value of 1.37 billion yen in FY2020, the target will be 4 billion yen, and the "period" will be FY2030. 1 Ebisawa M, et al. Japanese guideline for food allergy 2017. Allergol Int. 2017 ; 66 : 248-264 2 Sicherer SH, et al. Food allergy: a review and update on epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention, and management. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2018 ; 141 : 41–58.[2nd Commitment]Protein is essential for people to live. We have been facing this nutrient since our foundation. As it becomes increasingly important to address food shortages and diversifying lifestyles due to global population increase, we will expand the potentials of protein. Specifically, we will promote product development that diversifies protein intake options and research and development of new alternative proteins."Concrete action plan" will be to expand sales of highly sustainable plant-based protein products and to explore new alternative proteins. "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 commercialization of new protein products. The "baseline level of indicator" will be 5 items of plant-based products as of April 2020. The target is to expand plant-based products to 30 items, shipping 10 billion yen, along with commercialization of new protein products, and the FY2030 will be the "period".[3rd Commitment]We commit ourselves to work to avoid leaving the elderly vulnerable to nutritional consumption due to a decline in the cognitive function behind. It is difficult for them to select a well-balanced food.In Japan, the number of elderly aged 65 or older is 36 million, accounting for 28.9%*1 of the national population, continuing to set a new record. While efforts to extend healthy life expectancy in this situation are a national issue, it also will show the way to go for other countries amid predictions of an aging population in the world as well.The key to extending healthy life expectancy is to maintain exercise and awareness functions. In Japan, the medical check which measured the lowered condition (freight) for all the late-stage elderly aged 75 or older from last year was also started.We contribute to the improvement of QOL by researching and commercializing new materials that improve cognitive functions while providing "the joy to eating."We have obtained a patent for the improvement of the cognitive function (retaining memories) in the research of imidazole dipeptide*2.The commercialization and promotion of these products is defined as "concrete action plan," and "primary indicator" will be the supply amount on a raw material basis (supply amount divided by a reference intake amount that can be expected to exert the effect«500mg»).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. 1 Population Projections for Japan (2017) (National Institute of Population and Social Security Research) 2 Patent No.6588666 IMIDAZOLE DIPEPTIDE FOR TREATING DEMENTIA DUE TO AGING OR CEREBRAL ATROPHY