Walnuts to be added to allergen labels in Japan after allergy cases surge
Japan Times -- Jun 14
The number of walnut allergy cases in Japan has jumped over tenfold in nine years, a survey by the Consumer Affairs Agency has revealed.
Following the surge, which is believed to be partly due to an increase in walnut consumption in the country, the agency is planning to add walnuts to the list of food allergens that must be specified on product labels by the end of the fiscal year through March.
According to the triennial survey, the number of walnut allergy cases rose from 40 in 2011 to 74 in 2014, 251 in 2017 and 463 in 2020.
Severe allergy cases, including anaphylactic reactions, hit 58 in 2020, up drastically from four in 2011.
In the 2020 survey, 13.5% of all food allergy cases were caused by tree nuts, the third largest share after 33.4% caused by eggs and 18.6% by milk. Of the tree nut allergy cases, walnuts accounted for a majority.

slurrp.com - Aug 04
Natto is incredibly well-known in Japan, despite the fact that few people outside of Asia have ever heard of it.

Reuters - Jul 13
Experts say global warming is posing a real threat to the production of wasabi. And it’s not only the typhoons.

Reuters - Jul 12
For half a century, Takeo Nakajo has been catching katsuo, or skipjack tuna - indispensable in Japanese cuisine whether eaten raw, dried or used as a base for the broth.

Grape - Jul 12
Onigiri, or rice balls, are one of the most popularly enjoyed snacks in Japan. With a wide variety of flavors, they can make for a meal on their own–even if the way to open one sometimes seems like figuring out a puzzle to the uninitiated.

nutraingredients-asia.com - Jun 21
Japanese children who consume dietary supplements were found to eat less healthily than non-users, consuming more oils and confectionary and lower amounts of fruits and vegetables.