Rakuren, the product brand for Shikoku Dairy Cooperative, has conducted research in collaboration with Hiroshima University's Professor Hiroki Nikawa on the probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus KO3 and found it has anti-caries (or anti-cavity) activity. Rakuren is selling yogurt and drink yogurt containing the probiotic branded as 8020, from the common name for the strain L8020. Although it does not look like an official health claim has been approved, a big, shiny tooth is shown on the package.
An oral health benefit for a probiotic is not surprising, but most companies put more effort into separating the product from the data for the ingredient in cases where an official claim has not been obtained. らくれん プロバイオ 歯周病
http://www.rakuren.co.jp/8020/lineup.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Suntory touts its All-Free non-alcoholic beer as the number 1 seller in this category. Non-alcoholic beers are cash cows for beer companies, because they are placed next to beer on the shelves, making them look cheap, when they are actually priced quite high. This product is called All-Free because it is alcohol-free, calorie-free and sugar-free. Interestingly, as I was searching for information on purines in relation to yesterday's post, I found an article claiming that non-alcoholic beers end up having higher purine content, so you get rid of one thing only to enrich something else you don't want. That is pertinent, because these non-alcoholic beers are popular among older and elderly people, the same people who might want to avoid developing gout.
The graph shows how the new formulation has improved: less off-taste, more beer-like, better after-taste, better mouth-feel, richer taste.
http://www.suntory.co.jp/beer/allfree/index.html?fromid=beer_top_pc
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
McDonald's and BEAMS Design collaborated on bags as part of a giveaway to coincide with the American Vintage special burger offerings. The bag shown fits in with the 70's theme of the second round of the campaign.
Cards with serial numbers will are given to people who order the "Hot and Groovy" sets and the first 11,000 who respond get a bag.
http://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/campaign/americanvintage/campaign02/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Suntory has renewed its 3rd category Jokki Nama Beer. They have test data showing low off-tastes and low objectionable after-taste. However the more interesting claim is for low purine content. They claim 0.0 to 0.9 mg per 100 ml, in contrast to regular beer which contains between 9 and 11 mg per 100 ml. Since purines in beer have been strongly associated with the occurrence of gout, many people are trying to still enjoy beer without the increased risk of gout. If so, Suntory says this is the beer for you.
http://www.suntory.co.jp/beer/jug-nama/product/index.html
chart of purine contests of various beers
http://products.suntory.co.jp/beer/ingredient.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Among the Japan Olympic Committee Official Sponsors, there are several food companies or organizations.
Meiji, Ajinomoto Frozen Foods, Nissin, Nissin Oillio, Marudai and JA.
http://www.joc.or.jp/about/partners/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
KFC is collaborating with Hello Kitty on kids' menu gifts. Among the gifts are combs, mirrors, drinking bottles, stickers, cups and containers for lunch box items.
http://www.kfc.co.jp/menu/set_smile.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
Yoshinoya is collaborating with New Japan Pro-Wrestling in a series of promotions, each of which feature one wrestler and one Yoshinoya product or special. Discount tickets to events are offered as well as product giveaways. New Japan Pro-Wrestling bills itself as the "King of Sports", which might cause some people might roll their eyes.
http://www.yoshinoya.com/njpw/index.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
McDonald's is offering Olympic themed happy sets in two phases. The first is a set of Olympic stickers and the second is a calendar to help follow all the events.
http://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/happyset/hs/index.html
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
KFC has brought back fried fish and fish sandwich which uses the same fried fish pieces. They are still using Alaska pollock, but calling it Kentucky fried fish is interesting.
http://www.kfc.co.jp/campaign/friedfish/
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
KFC's boneless chicken has made it to Japan. Definitely more convenient, but some people think the taste is not quite the same. In an article last year, it sounded like KFC expected the boneless to eventually become more popular than the traditional chicken pieces. Something to watch.
http://www.kfc.co.jp/menu/detail/index.cgi?pid=OR_campaign_117
Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.
