[Kirin] First in the natto industry*1! Takano Foods will launch a new food with functional claims for immune function, “Amazing Natto Gold with Plasma Lactobacillus Sauce”, starting September 1st (Sunday) *Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd.*
Press release: August 19, 2024
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A first in the natto industry*1! Takano Foods will launch a new food with functional claims for immune function, “Amazing Natto Gold with Plasma Lactobacillus Sauce”, starting September 1st (Sunday) *Contains Kirin’s proprietary material “Plasma Lactic Acid Bacteria” and Takano Foods’ patented bacteria “S-903 Natto Bacillus*2″* Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd. (President and COO Kenji Minakata,
hereinafter referred to as Kirin) and Takano Foods Co., Ltd. (Representative Director and President
Seinori Takano (hereinafter referred to as Takano Foods) is a new lineup of Takano Foods’ “Sugo Natto” series, which is the first food in the natto industry to display immune function claims, containing the Kirin Group’s proprietary material “Lactobacillus Plasma” in natto sauce. “Awesome natto gold
We jointly developed “Plasma Lactic Acid Bacteria Sauce”. This product will be released by Takano Foods starting Sunday, September 1st in the East Japan area*3 excluding Hokkaido.
According to our research, we found that “fermented foods” are the most common product category that customers eat and drink to maintain and improve their immunity*4. Among fermented foods, the sales value of the natto market in 2023 will increase by 8.3% compared to the previous year*5, and the composition ratio of high-priced products with a unit price of 120 yen or more is increasing*6. In addition, regarding customers’ eating habits of natto, the percentage of people who eat natto every day will be 18.9% in 2023, the highest ever in the last 10 years, and “health benefits” are cited as the number one reason for the increase in the frequency of eating natto* 7. The reason behind the habitual eating of natto is thought to be the increasing health consciousness.
At Takano Foods, we offer “Amazing Natto” targeting health-conscious customers.
S-903″ was released in February 2017, and cumulative sales volume until May 2024 has reached approximately 450 million servings *8. Kirin and Takano Foods are introducing a new health proposal from the “Sugo Natto” brand, a high-value-added product that responds to the health-conscious customers, by introducing natto that uses the patented “S-903 natto bacterium,” which improves the immune system of healthy people. We have jointly developed a food with functional claims that is both delicious and healthy and comes with a sauce containing Kirin’s Lactobacillus Plasma that supports maintenance. Through natto, which is a staple at the dining table, we aim to make “immune care” a daily routine and habit.
*1 As of Monday, August 19, 2024, researched by Kirin and Takano Foods, based on notification information search for foods with functional claims.
*2 Patent No. 5090754
*3 East Japan area excluding Hokkaido
Aomori, Iwate, Akita, Miyagi, Yamagata, Fukushima, Niigata, Toyama, Nagano, Yamanashi, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa , Shizuoka Prefecture (partially)
*4 August 2022 Kirin research (web survey) Nationwide, men and women aged 20-69, n=3,146 Products consumed to maintain and improve immunity (MA) and frequency (SA)
*5 Calculated by the National Natto Cooperative Federation
*6 INTAGE SCI (including people in their 70s and Okinawa) March 2022 to February 2023 Natto category, price range, composition ratio based on sales volume
*7 June 2023, National Natto Cooperative Federation research n=2,000 *8 Calculated based on Takano Foods shipment results, with 40g/pack as one meal. About “Amazing Natto Gold with Plasma Lactic Acid Bacteria Sauce” * 1.Product features*
・Natto made using the patented bacterium “S-903 Natto Bacillus” is delicious and healthy, with a “Plasma Lactobacillus Sauce” containing Kirin’s “Plasma Lactobacillus” that supports the maintenance of immune function in healthy people. It is a food with functional claims that satisfies people.
・Uses 100% domestically produced soybeans of medium size or larger. This natto is soft to the core while maintaining the plump soybean elasticity.
・Inheriting the flavor of existing sauces that are highly rated for their deliciousness, this sauce uses extracts of three types: bonito flakes, kelp, and dried sardines, and has the flavor of dashi. * 2.Package design*
・As the second product of an amazing natto brand, we designed it with a sense of series in mind.
・The gold-based background texture expresses the special feeling and functionality that the product name “gold” represents, as well as the strength of the product.
・The text and graphics have been simplified to make it easier to read, and the layout makes it easier to understand “Lactic Acid Bacteria Plasma” and “Immune Care.”
Plasma lactic acid bacteria sauce
* 3. Daily intake guideline and intake method*
・The recommended intake is 2 packs (90.8 g) per day.
・Two bags of sauce contain 100 billion “Lactic Acid Plasma” bacteria. Pour over all the sauce and enjoy.
[Foods with functional claims]
・This product contains L. lactis strain
Plasma) included. It has been reported that Lactobacillus Plasma acts on pDC (plasmacytoid dendritic cells) and helps maintain immune function in healthy people.
– Balance your diet based on staple foods, main dishes, and side dishes. ・This product has not been approved by the government.
・This product is not intended for the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of diseases.
・2 packs a day (estimate)
What is “Plasma Lactobacillus”?
“Lactic acid bacteria Plasma” is a lactic acid bacteria that supports the maintenance of immunity in healthy people. First in the world*9 It has been reported in a paper that it acts on pDC (plasmacytoid dendritic cells), the control tower of immunity. Kirin, Koiwai Dairy Products, and Kyowa Hakko Bio are collaborating on this research, and with the cooperation of domestic and international universities and research institutes, numerous papers and conference presentations have been published.
Plasma lactic acid bacteria
*9 Lactic acid bacteria that was reported to act on pDCs in humans for the first time in the world (based on published information on PubMed and Ichushi Web)
The Kirin Group has formulated a long-term management plan, “Kirin Group Vision 2027,” with the aim of “creating value in fields ranging from food to medicine and becoming a leading CSV*10 company in the world,” contributing to people’s health. We are currently developing a health science business that will continue to grow. As part of this effort, we have been promoting products across the group that use Lactobacillus Plasma, which was developed through more than 35 years of Kirin Group research, to support the health of each individual who lives their life with “immune care.” We will continue to expand our lineup of products with the aim of establishing and penetrating immune care habits among our customers.
*10 Abbreviation for Creating Shared Value. Creating value that can be shared with customers and society
Through manufacturing that focuses on nature and people, the Kirin Group spreads new joy in “food and health” and contributes to the realization of a spiritually enriching society.
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1.Product Name: Amazing Natto Gold with Plasma Lactic Acid Bacteria Sauce 2.Capacity 40g x 2 packs
3. Attached items: Plasma lactic acid bacteria sauce, mustard 4. Release area: Released in eastern Japan area excluding Hokkaido Aomori prefecture, Iwate prefecture, Akita prefecture, Miyagi prefecture, Yamagata prefecture, Fukushima prefecture, Niigata prefecture, Toyama prefecture, Nagano prefecture,
Yamanashi Prefecture, Ibaraki Prefecture, Tochigi Prefecture, Gunma Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture, Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture, Shizuoka Prefecture (partially)
5.Release date: Sunday, September 1, 2024
6.Suggested retail price (excluding tax) 255 yen
7.Seller: Takano Foods Co., Ltd.
8. Notification number I1420