Thought I would finish up the McDonald's sourcing chart I started several days ago. Once again, the processing location is given in parentheses. No comments on any specific choices here, but it is interesting how decisions made based on price, reliability, safety, transportation costs, etc. result in the use of ingredients from 5 continents.
French Fries (Potatoes) US (US)
Onion Rings (Onions) US (US)
Hash Browns (Potatoes) US (US)
Snack Chicken BR, JP (JP) BR = Brazil
Chicken Nuggets/Fried Chicken TH (TH)
Cheese Bites (Cheese, Potatoes) US (US)
Apple Pie (Apple) IT (JP) IT = Italy
Custard Pie (Egg) JP (JP)
Pies (Flour) US, CA, JP (JP)
Frying Oil IN (IN) IN = Indonesia
Cheese (Cheddar, Colby, Slice) AU, NZ, UK, JP (AU, NZ, UK, JP)
Soft Cone (Milk) JP, AU, NZ (JP)
Soft Cone (Flour) US, AU, JP (JP)
Milk JP (JP)
Here is a link to the list (PDF)
http://www.burgerkingjapan.co.jp/menu/pdf/origin.pdf
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
In Beijing and Shanghai these days, it is easier than ever to find Japanese food products. Convenience stores are usually your best bet for finding this items and despite the political friction between China and Japan, Japanese food brands sell at a premium due to reputations for high quality and safety standards. Here is a photo of Meiji Bulgaria Yogurt as it appears on the shelf of a Shanghai convenience store.
Key Words: Meiji Bulgaria Yogurt, China 明治ブルガリアヨーグルト 中国
As part of the Lunch Pack series, Yamazaki has introduced a bolognese sandwich using beef from the Tokachi region of Hokkaido. The photo is just used to remind people where they are accustomed to seeing this sauce - on pasta. Although many Lunch Pack products do contain noodles, this one is simply sauce based.
Although I have not seen this product on the shelves and have not had a chance to try it, past experience tells me that this product will not be as overly rich as you might imagine. They are not just sticking spaghetti sauce in a sandwich, that would in no way suit Japanese tastes.
Key Words: Yamazaki, Lunch Pack, Tokachi, Hokkaido, Bolognese, ヤマザキ 山崎製パン ランチパック ボロネーゼ 十勝 北海道
http://www.yamazakipan.co.jp/lunch-p/index.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Chinese customers continue to buy large quantities of European and Japanese infant formula while traveling abroad. This is most closely linked to the lingering distrust of the domestic industry following the melamine scandal of 2008 which reportedly affected upwards of 300,000 infants.
The result of Chinese demand in other countries is empty shelves and upset customers. That is the reason you see signs like this one (Japan) limiting purchases to 8 per person. Similar signs can be seen in European countries.
In a typical example of Japanese insensitivity, the notifications are only given in English and Chinese.
With product imagery as beautiful as always, Haagen-Dazs has introduced Murasaki Imo 紫いも or purple fleshed sweet potato ice cream. Murasaki imo is a regional favorite from southern Kyushu and it sweet enough to be eaten freshly baked, as is.
This product derives its color naturally from the ayamurasaki variety of murasaki imo which is high the anthocyanin color pigments.
Key Words: Haagen-Dazs, Murasaki Imo, Ayamurasaki, Purple Sweet Potato, anthocyanin, ハーゲンダッツ アヤムラサキ 紫いも アントシアニン
http://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/murasaki_imo/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Following up on the Kobe Beef burger I came across the other day, I looked back and found this Lotteria promotion from last year. It is a monthly rotation through 10 of the regional Japanese beef brands. This brings up an important point - while in outside Japan, Kobe Beef is the well known brand, within Japan, Wagyu or Japanese Beef is what people know and value. Within this Japanese Beef category there are many regional brands, only one of which is Kobe Beef. Therefore I think I will take this opportunity to introduce a few different Japanese beef brands as selected by Lotteria.
1) Kobe Beef 神戸牛 (Kobe City Area)
2) Bungo Beef 豊後牛 (Oita Prefecture)
3) Saga Beef 佐賀牛 (Saga Prefecture)
4) Hokkaido Beef 北海道和牛 (Hokkaido Prefecture)
5) Yamagata Beef 山形牛 (Yamagata Prefecture)
6) Sendai Beef 仙台牛 (Sendai City Area)
7) Tochigi Beef とちぎ和牛 (Tochigi Prefecture)
8) Hida Beef 飛騨牛 (Gifu Prefecture)
9) Matsusaka Beef 松阪牛 (Mie Prefecture)
10) Omi Beef 近江牛 (Shiga Prefecture)
Key Words: Lotteria, Kobe Beef, Japanese Beef, ロッテリア 神戸牛 和牛
https://www.lotteria.jp/news/archive/2015/news01160001.php
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Asahi Beer shot to number one in Japan on the back of Asahi Super Dry beer which was introduced in 1987. They have been riding the popularity of that beer for almost 3 decades now. In recent years, they have been pushing Dry Black as a new type of beer or an alternative to standard black or stout beers. They explain that the Dry Black has a more clear and less complicated taste. While many people drink stout beers exactly for that reason, Asahi is trying to show how this clear taste can be used in new ways.
Super Dry Black Bar Style promotes starting with a glass of ice, adding Asahi Super Dry Black and topping it off with a slice of citrus and mint.
The suggested variations are as follows:
Lemon Black
Lime Black
Orange Black
Sudachi Black (sudachi is a Japanese citrus fruit)
Pink Grapefruit Black
as well as non-citrus variations
Wilkinson Shandy Black (a shandy made with Wilkinson carbonated soda also sold by Asahi)
Double Cultured Black (with added Calpis, an Asahi subsidiary)
Cafe Black (with coffee)
Cinnamon Black
Almond Black
Certainly something new to try at least once, but oddly, I don't see it on the menu of the Asahi beer hall in Tokyo.
Key Words: Asashi Super Dry, Dry Black, Bar Style スーパードライ ドライブラック バースタイル
http://www.asahibeer.co.jp/dryblack/barstyle/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Tractability and ingredient sourcing have become concerns worldwide. In Japan, incidents involving imported ingredients have been the main cause for increased consumer attention. Burger King Japan has posted a chart of the origin and processing locations for all their ingredients and components. Here I give the translation of the first half of the chart. The processing location is in parentheses.
Whopper Patty AU, NZ (AU)
Burger Patty AU, NZ (AU)
Chicken Patty TH (TH) TH = Thailand
Snack Chicken JP, BR (JP) BR = Brazil
Fish Patty US, RU (TH)
Pork Patty US (US)
SPAM US (US)
Hot Dog Sausage US, CA, JP (JP)
Bacon US (US)
Bologna Sausage US, CA, AU (JP)
Roast Pork US, CA (JP)
Buns US, CA (JP)
Tomato US, KR, JP KR = Korea
Onion JP, US (JP)
Lettuce JP, US, TW (JP) TW = Taiwan
Salad JP, US, TW (JP) TW = Taiwan
Avocado PE (PE) PE = Peru
Pickles LK (JP) LK = Sri Lanka
Lemon US
I will summarize the second half in a few days, but just looking at the distance traveled of the ingredients of a fast food meal is certainly interesting.
Here is a link to the list (PDF)
http://www.burgerkingjapan.co.jp/menu/pdf/origin.pdf
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Burger King Japan is offering Double King (TM) sets which center on pork patty burgers which something added to make it a filling meal. One addition has just been made so there are 4 options:
1) Double BBQ - two pork patties, fresh vegetables, smokey BBQ sauce
2) Hash & Cheese - pork patty, hash brown patty, cheese, pepper Caesar sauce
3) Monster Baby (TM) - pork patty, spicy hot chicken patty, fresh vegetables, teriyaki sauce
and a one new offering that does not have a pork patty
4) Double Chicken with Tartar - two chicken patties, fresh vegetables, tartar sauce.
These items are 390 yen alone, or 490 yen as a set (drink and fries). All fast food chains push have been pushing limited offerings and sets as a counter to the obligatory cheap menu items that get people in the door.
Key Words: Burger King, Double King, バーガーキング ダブルバーベキュー ハッシュ＆チーズ モンスターベビー ダブルタルタル
http://www.burgerkingjapan.co.jp/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Although I do not see this being advertised anywhere, when I went to a Lotteria in Ginza recently, they had Kobe Beef burgers for sale. There was a rotating series of Japanese regional beef burgers at Lotteria from 2014 to 2015, but not only is this not noted anywhere on the website, but it is a bit more reasonable than the Kobe Beef burger 2 years ago. It was 1,500 yen/ burger two years ago, but is "only" 1,000 yen now. Of course the question remains, why take a luxury premium beef and grind it up as hamburger meat. It is definately an interesting promotion though.
Key words; Lotteria, Kobe beef, ロッテリア 神戸牛
