Jump to content

Yakult: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
AfD closed as keep (nomination withdrawn).
Restore nutritional value section. This will inevitably need work, but no valid reason for its blaking has been given, despite request.
(29 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 11: Line 11:
| location = [[Minato, Tokyo|Minato-ku]], [[Tokyo]], Japan
| location = [[Minato, Tokyo|Minato-ku]], [[Tokyo]], Japan
}}
}}

⚫
[[File:Yakult drink.jpg|thumb|Yakult]]
{{nihongo|'''Yakult'''|ヤクルト|Yakuruto
{{nihongo|'''Yakult'''|ヤクルト|Yakuruto
}} is a [[probiotic]] [[dairy product]] made by [[Fermentation (food)|fermenting]] a mixture of [[skimmed milk]] with a special strain of the [[bacterium]] ''[[Lactobacillus casei]]'' Shirota. It was created by a Japanese scientist [[Minoru Shirota]], who graduated from the Medical School of [[Kyoto University]] in 1930. In 1935, he started manufacturing and selling Yakult. Official claims state that the name is derived from {{lang|eo|jahurto}}, an [[Esperanto]] word for "[[yogurt]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://yakult.de/dr-shirota/|title = Dr. Shirota - Visionär und Gutmensch |publisher = Yakult Deutschland|accessdate = 2016-01-04}}</ref> Since then, Yakult has also introduced a line of beverages for the Japanese market that contain ''[[Bifidobacterium]] breve'' bacteria, and has also used its lactobacilli research to develop cosmetics. More recently, the Yakult Honsha played a major role in developing the [[chemotherapy]] drug [[irinotecan]] (Camptosar, CPT-11).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yakult.co.jp/medical/|title=人も地球も健康に Yakult 医薬品事業|first=YakultHonsha|last=Co.,Ltd|website=www.yakult.co.jp}}</ref>
}} is a [[probiotic]] [[dairy product]] made by [[Fermentation (food)|fermenting]] a mixture of [[skimmed milk]] with a special strain of the [[bacterium]] ''[[Lactobacillus casei]]'' Shirota. It was created by Japanese scientist [[Minoru Shirota]].


== Yakult Honsha Company==
After its introduction in Japan and [[Taiwan]], Yakult was first sold in [[Brazil]] in 1966,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yakult.com.br/yakult/default.aspx?mn=200&c=215&s=0|title=Yakult - Saúde Global em Harmonia|website=www.yakult.com.br}}</ref> due to the large number of Japanese immigrants in the country, before it was marketed elsewhere. Today, Yakult is sold in 38 countries,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yakulteurope.com/index.cfm?menuid=6 |title=Yakult Europe – Yakult worldwide |accessdate=2007-01-16 |work= }}</ref> although its bacteria cultures are provided from a mother strain from Japan regardless of production location.{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}}
⚫
[[File:Yakult drink.jpg|thumb|upright|Yakult]]
The Yakult Honsha Company is a multinational corporation that also owns the [[Tokyo Yakult Swallows]] baseball team. The company regularly promotes what the ''Financial Times'' called its "idiosyncratic philosophy of 'Shirota-ism'", namely that it should sell its products at an affordable price, and that a healthy intestine promotes longer life.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/e8e517c8-5387-11e3-9250-00144feabdc0|title=On the trail of the Yakult Ladies|work=[[Financial Times]]|first1=Ben|last1=Bland| first2=Jonathan|last2=Soble|date=November 27, 2013|access-date=September 5, 2018}}</ref>


[[File:ヤクルトレディ (529074577).jpg|thumb|A Yakult lady in Japan]]
Yakult is marketed in different sizes. In [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]], [[Europe]], [[India]], [[Indonesia]], and [[Vietnam]] Yakult comes in 65 ml bottles. In the [[United States]] (one of Yakult's largest selling markets), [[Brazil]], [[Mexico]], [[Japan]], the [[Philippines]], [[Thailand]], [[Malaysia]] and [[South Korea]], 80 ml bottles are available. It is also available in [[Singapore]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Taiwan]] and [[China]] where Yakult comes in 100 ml bottles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yakultusa.com/ |title=Yakult USA |accessdate=2007-01-16 |work= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yakult.com.au/product01.htm |title=Yakult Australia – What is Yakult? |accessdate=2007-01-16 |work= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yakult.com.tw/ |title=Yakult Taiwan |accessdate=2007-01-16 |work= }}</ref>
Since 1963 Yakult has employed women known as "Yakult ladies" (ヤクルトレディー; ''Yakuruto redī'') or "Yakult aunties" (ヤクルトおばさん; ''Yakuruto obasan'') to sell or deliver the products to individuals at their homes while traveling on bicycles or motorcycles. The initiative, meant to utilize Japanese women in the workforce, is responsible for up to 60% of all bottled Yakult sales. However, the number of Yakult ladies in Japan has declined from 65,700 in 1973 to 42,500 in 2009.<ref>{{cite news |title=朝日新聞社）：堅調ヤクルトレディー　地域密着、不況知らず - 経済を読む - ビジネス・経済 |url=http://www.asahi.com/business/topics/economy/TKY200907260281.html |work=[[Asahi Shimbun]] |date=July 27, 2009 |language=ja |last=久保 |first=智 |access-date=September 6, 2018}}</ref>


In 1998 the company gained international attention for its losses in the derivatives market, totaling $US813 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/21/business/international-business-japan-company-derivatives-loss.html|title=Japan Company Derivatives Loss|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=March 21, 1998|access-date=September 5, 2018}}</ref> In 2000 ''[[The Japan Times]]'' reported that Yakult Honsha had been paying a criminal syndicate annually to keep them from disrupting shareholder meetings, but that the money was concealed as payments to an advertising company.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2000/01/13/national/yakult-paid-off-gangsters-sources/|title=Yakult paid off gangsters: Sources|work=[[The Japan Times]]|date=January 13, 2000|access-date=September 5, 2018}}</ref>
The product is made by {{nihongo|Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd.|株式会社ヤクルト本社|Kabushiki-gaisha Yakuruto Honsha}} ({{tyo|2267}}), where [[Groupe Danone]] has a 20% share. The company also owns one of Japan's major [[baseball]] franchises, the [[Tokyo Yakult Swallows]]. It has been also one of the partner companies of the [[FINA World Aquatics Championships]] since 2005.

Yakult opened a factory in [[Fountain Valley, California]] in the [[United States]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Mueller|first=Mark|title=Yakult To Build Fountain Valley Plant for U.S. Expansion|journal=[[Orange County Business Journal]]|date=June 28, 2010|volume=33|issue=26|pages=1, 23|url=http://www.ocbj.com/news/2010/jun/27/yakult-build-fountain-valley-plant-us-expansion/}}</ref> Yakult is manufactured and sold in India under a 50:50 joint-venture with [[Danone#India|Danone]].<ref name="yakultindia">{{cite news|title=Yakult Danone: Spreading far and wide |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/yakult-danone-spreading-far-and-wide-112052100043_1.html |first=Saumya |last=Prakash |date=21 May 2012|work=[[Business Standard]]|accessdate=Jan 7, 2017}}</ref> For over a decade [[Danone]] owned 21 percent of Yakult Honsha shares, but in 2018 Danone announced it would reduce its holdings in Yakult to 7 percent, while still remaining the largest Yakult Honsha shareholder.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-14/danone-to-sell-stake-in-japan-s-yakult-for-about-1-8-billion|title=Yakult Declines After Danone's $1.8 Billion Share Sale Plan|last=Gretler|first=Corinne|work=[[Bloomberg News]]|date=February 14, 2018|access-date=September 5, 2018}}</ref>


==Nutritional value==
==Nutritional value==
Line 34: Line 39:
<!-- link does not work - replaced with the current UK food agency recommendation - While many people take Actimel to improve their health, they are often unaware of the high amount of sugar they are consuming.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/newspapers/sunday_times/scotland/article581810.ece Bacteria-rich health drinks contain 80% more sugar than cola --></ref>
<!-- link does not work - replaced with the current UK food agency recommendation - While many people take Actimel to improve their health, they are often unaware of the high amount of sugar they are consuming.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/newspapers/sunday_times/scotland/article581810.ece Bacteria-rich health drinks contain 80% more sugar than cola --></ref>


=== Scientific basis ===
==Scientific reviews ==
⚫
In 2010, in response to a request from Yakult to market its products as maintaining upper respiratory tract defence against pathogens, the [[European Food Safety Authority|EFSA]] panel concluded that a cause and effect relationship had not been established between the consumption of ''Lactobacillus casei'' strain Shirota and such maintenance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/1860 |title=EFSA – Scientific Opinion of the NDA Panel: Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota and maintenance of the upper respiratory tract defence against pathogens by maintaining immune defences |doi=10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1860 |publisher=Efsa.europa.eu |date= |accessdate=2011-11-17}}</ref>
According to the manufacturer's website, the benefits of Yakult consumption are supported by an array of scientific studies.<ref>[http://www.yakult07.co.uk/Public/hcp/yakult_the_product/history.aspx Yakult07.co.uk] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409193210/http://www.yakult07.co.uk/Public/hcp/yakult_the_product/history.aspx |date=April 9, 2008 }}</ref> Those could range from maintenance of [[gut flora]],<ref>[http://www.yakult07.co.uk/Public/hcp/yakult_lcs/healthy_microbiota.aspx Yakult07.co.uk] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119114355/http://www.yakult07.co.uk/Public/hcp/yakult_lcs/healthy_microbiota.aspx |date=January 19, 2008 }}</ref> "modulation" of the [[immune system]],<ref name="yakult07">[http://www.yakult07.co.uk/Public/hcp/yakult_lcs/immune_modulation.aspx Yakult07.co.uk] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409193118/http://www.yakult07.co.uk/Public/hcp/yakult_lcs/immune_modulation.aspx |date=April 9, 2008 }}</ref> regulation of bowel habits and [[constipation]]<ref>[http://www.yakult07.co.uk/Public/hcp/yakult_lcs/bowel_habit.aspx Yakult07.co.uk] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409193053/http://www.yakult07.co.uk/Public/hcp/yakult_lcs/bowel_habit.aspx |date=April 9, 2008 }}</ref> and finally effects on some [[gastrointestinal infection]]s.<ref>[http://www.yakult07.co.uk/Public/hcp/yakult_lcs/gastrointestinal_infections.aspx Yakult07.co.uk] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119114350/http://www.yakult07.co.uk/Public/hcp/yakult_lcs/gastrointestinal_infections.aspx |date=January 19, 2008 }}</ref>
Although the number of scientific papers is large, most of them are based on ''[[in vitro]]'' and ''in vivo'' experiments, with some human clinical trials done on cohorts<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Takeda K, Okumura K |title=Effects of a fermented milk drink containing Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota on the human NK-cell activity |journal=J. Nutr. |volume=137 |issue=3 Suppl 2 |pages=791S–3S |date=Mar 2007 |pmid=17311976 |url=http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=17311976}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Morimoto K, Takeshita T, Nanno M, Tokudome S, Nakayama K |title=Modulation of natural killer cell activity by supplementation of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei in habitual smokers |journal=Prev Med |volume=40 |issue=5 |pages=589–94 |date=May 2005 |pmid=15749143 |doi=10.1016/j.ypmed.2004.07.019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Spanhaak S, Havenaar R, Schaafsma G |title=The effect of consumption of milk fermented by ''Lactobacillus casei'' strain Shirota on the intestinal microflora and immune parameters in humans |journal=Eur J Clin Nutr |volume=52 |issue=12 |pages=899–907 |date=Dec 1998 |pmid=9881885 |doi=10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600663 }}</ref> and with the daily consumption of 40–100 billions of probiotic ''L. casei'' Shirota,<ref name="yakult07"/> above the single bottle concentration of approximately 20–40 billion.
⚫
In 2010, an [[European Food Safety Authority|EFSA]] panel concluded that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota and maintenance of the upper respiratory tract defence against pathogens by maintaining immune defences.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/1860 |title=EFSA – Scientific Opinion of the NDA Panel: Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota and maintenance of the upper respiratory tract defence against pathogens by maintaining immune defences |doi=10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1860 |publisher=Efsa.europa.eu |date= |accessdate=2011-11-17}}</ref>

The first Lactobacillus bacteria was originally isolated from human intestines at Yakult Central Institute in Japan
<ref>Yapp, Robin. (September 12, 2014). "[https://web.archive.org/web/20150306054443/http://cdli.asm.org/content/8/3/593.full Effect of Intranasal Administration ofLactobacillus casei Shirota on Influenza Virus Infection of Upper Respiratory Tract in Mice]", ''[[American Society for Microbiology]]''. Accepted 12 March 2001.</ref>

== Production ==
[[File:Yakult packs.jpg|thumb|Packs of Yakult]]
Yakult opened a factory in [[Fountain Valley, California]] in the [[United States]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Mueller|first=Mark|title=Yakult To Build Fountain Valley Plant for U.S. Expansion|journal=[[Orange County Business Journal]]|date=June 28, 2010|volume=33|issue=26|pages=1, 23}}</ref>
Yakult is also manufactured in [[Australia]] in [[Dandenong, Victoria]].

In Malaysia, Yakult is manufactured at their factory located at [[Seremban]], [[Negeri Sembilan]].

In the [[Philippines]], Yakult opened a factory in [[Calamba, Laguna]] due to the drink's popularity in the country.

Yakult is manufactured and sold in India under a 50:50 joint-venture with [[Danone#India|Danone]].<ref name="yakultindia">{{cite news|title=Yakult Danone: Spreading far and wide |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/yakult-danone-spreading-far-and-wide-112052100043_1.html |first=Saumya |last=Prakash |date=21 May 2012|work=[[Business Standard]]|accessdate=Jan 7, 2017}}</ref> It is manufactured in [[Haryana|Haryana (Sonipath)]].<ref>http://www.yakult.co.in/contactus.aspx</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 58: Line 47:
*[[Probiotic]]
*[[Probiotic]]
*[[Tokyo Yakult Swallows]]
*[[Tokyo Yakult Swallows]]
*[[Yakult lady]]
*[[Carlos Kasuga]] (founder of Yakult Mexico)
*[[Carlos Kasuga]] (founder of Yakult Mexico)


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
<!-- please do not add non-english websites here -->
<!-- please do not add non-english websites here -->
*[http://www.yakult.co.jp/english/ Japanese Yakult website]
*[http://www.yakult.co.jp/english/ Yakult website]

*[http://www.yakultusa.com/ Yakult USA website]
*[http://www.yakult.co.in/ Yakult India website]
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


Revision as of 20:57, 7 September 2018

Yakult
IndustryProbiotic Drinks
Founded1935; 89 years ago (1935)
HeadquartersMinato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Key people
Sumiya Hori (Chairman), Khamis Agear(EVP for global operation)
Websitewww.yakult.co.jp/english/

Yakult (ヤクルト, Yakuruto) is a probiotic dairy product made by fermenting a mixture of skimmed milk with a special strain of the bacterium Lactobacillus casei Shirota. It was created by Japanese scientist Minoru Shirota.

Yakult Honsha Company

Yakult

The Yakult Honsha Company is a multinational corporation that also owns the Tokyo Yakult Swallows baseball team. The company regularly promotes what the Financial Times called its "idiosyncratic philosophy of 'Shirota-ism'", namely that it should sell its products at an affordable price, and that a healthy intestine promotes longer life.[1]

A Yakult lady in Japan

Since 1963 Yakult has employed women known as "Yakult ladies" (ヤクルトレディー; Yakuruto redī) or "Yakult aunties" (ヤクルトおばさん; Yakuruto obasan) to sell or deliver the products to individuals at their homes while traveling on bicycles or motorcycles. The initiative, meant to utilize Japanese women in the workforce, is responsible for up to 60% of all bottled Yakult sales. However, the number of Yakult ladies in Japan has declined from 65,700 in 1973 to 42,500 in 2009.[2]

In 1998 the company gained international attention for its losses in the derivatives market, totaling $US813 million.[3] In 2000 The Japan Times reported that Yakult Honsha had been paying a criminal syndicate annually to keep them from disrupting shareholder meetings, but that the money was concealed as payments to an advertising company.[4]

Yakult opened a factory in Fountain Valley, California in the United States in 2014.[5] Yakult is manufactured and sold in India under a 50:50 joint-venture with Danone.[6] For over a decade Danone owned 21 percent of Yakult Honsha shares, but in 2018 Danone announced it would reduce its holdings in Yakult to 7 percent, while still remaining the largest Yakult Honsha shareholder.[7]

Nutritional value

Standard Yakult (excludes variations such as in Yakult Light) contains:[8]

  • Sugar (sucrose, dextrose)
  • Skimmed milk powder
  • Flavours
  • Live Lactobacillus casei Shirota strain, 6.5 billion per 65 ml bottle (concentration of 108 CFU/mL)
  • Water

Standard Yakult contains 14g of sugar for every 100g, but comes in 65 ml bottles. This concentration is higher than the level defined as "HIGH" by the UK Food Standards Agency (described for concentrations of sugar above 15g per 100g).[9] Based on the existence of many products like Yakult in the world market and the content of milk protein (1.4 g per 100 ml),[10] it was classified as a fermented milk named "Fermented Milk Drinks" of the Codex Standard. Through nutrient profiling guidelines, current health claim regulation in European Union may forbid the use of health claim on food products that are nutritionally unbalanced, but dairy products and probiotic drinks are likely to be considered as favourable carrier because their health benefits outweigh the fact they might be high in one of the designated 'unhealthy' ingredients.[11]

Scientific reviews

In 2010, in response to a request from Yakult to market its products as maintaining upper respiratory tract defence against pathogens, the EFSA panel concluded that a cause and effect relationship had not been established between the consumption of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota and such maintenance.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ Bland, Ben; Soble, Jonathan (November 27, 2013). "On the trail of the Yakult Ladies". Financial Times. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  2. ^ 久保, 智 (July 27, 2009). "朝日新聞社）：堅調ヤクルトレディー　地域密着、不況知らず - 経済を読む - ビジネス・経済". Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  3. ^ "Japan Company Derivatives Loss". The New York Times. March 21, 1998. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  4. ^ "Yakult paid off gangsters: Sources". The Japan Times. January 13, 2000. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  5. ^ Mueller, Mark (June 28, 2010). "Yakult To Build Fountain Valley Plant for U.S. Expansion". Orange County Business Journal. 33 (26): 1, 23.
  6. ^ Prakash, Saumya (21 May 2012). "Yakult Danone: Spreading far and wide". Business Standard. Retrieved Jan 7, 2017.
  7. ^ Gretler, Corinne (February 14, 2018). "Yakult Declines After Danone's $1.8 Billion Share Sale Plan". Bloomberg News. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  8. ^ "Yakult Australia – Nutritional Information". Retrieved 2007-01-16.
  9. ^ "Food Standards Agency – Healthy Diet – Sugars". Eatwell.gov.uk. 2011-03-29. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
  10. ^ http://www.yakulteurope.com/index.cfm?menuid=2&ContentID=14
  11. ^ "Nutraingredients.com". Nutraingredients.com. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
  12. ^ "EFSA – Scientific Opinion of the NDA Panel: Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota and maintenance of the upper respiratory tract defence against pathogens by maintaining immune defences". Efsa.europa.eu. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1860. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yakult.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yakult&oldid=858530183"