Courtesy of Kerry
Kerry, a world leader in taste and nutrition, has announced a new commercial agreement with Japan-based Kameda Seika to market and distribute the company’s rice-derived postbiotic exclusively in the Americas and Europe across a range of applications.
Kameda Seika is a leading global rice cracker company with decades of rice research experience. Kameda has extensively researched rice-based lactobacillus for over 25 years and has accumulated several health claims. Kameda’s postbiotic Lactobacillus K-1 (Lactobacillus casei subsp, 327) has been scientifically proven to improve both digestive and skin health and can be used in a variety of food, beverages and supplements. Kerry will drive the commercialisation of this new technology to reach consumers outside of Japan by leveraging the full breadth of the company’s technology portfolio, application expertise, and commercial footprint.
Commenting on the new agreement, Dan Benson, Applied Health and Nutrition Lead for Kerry APMEA, said: “As lifespans increase globally, the search is on to find innovative and sustainable solutions which will help consumers to stay active and healthy for as long as possible. This new postbiotic is a premium science backed ingredient that builds on our core strengths in digestive and immune health. We are excited by the opportunity to incorporate this premium postbiotic into our growing portfolio of science-backed branded ingredients, which includes solutions to improve digestive, immune, cognitive, infant and women’s health.”
Commenting on the agreement, Dr Lekh Juneja, Chairman CEO Kameda Seika said: “We are very pleased to partner with Kerry, a world leader in the development of taste and nutrition solutions for the food, beverage and supplement markets. Kerry is an ideal partner, with deep expertise in science backed branded ingredients, including probiotics and postbiotics, and their footprint and presence of dedicated innovation and application centers of excellence across the globe. We are extremely proud of the development of Lactobacillus K-1 (Lactobacillus casei subsp, 327), which has already demonstrated many health benefits in clinical trials. We look forward to this partnership with Kerry, who will bring this postbiotic to a much larger global audience.”
Postbiotics are the metabolic by-products of fermentation. Offering similar benefits to probiotics and backed by growing clinical evidence, they present an attractive option for manufacturers seeking out heat and acid-stable health-enhancing ingredients. Consumer demand for postbiotics is also on the rise, driven by an interest in innovative food, beverages, and supplements that support health and wellness.
Kameda’s rice-derived Lactobacillus K-1 (Lactobacillus casei subsp, 327) postbiotic has been scientifically proven in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to improve digestive health. Results are further supported by additional scientific data confirming improvements in gut and skin health.
About Kerry
Kerry is a world leader in taste and nutrition for the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical markets. We innovate with our customers to create great-tasting products with improved nutrition and functionality while ensuring a better impact on the planet. Our leading consumer insights, global RD&A team of 1,100+ food scientists, and extensive global footprint enable us to solve our customers’ complex challenges with differentiated solutions. At Kerry, we are driven to be our customers’ most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition, and will reach over two billion consumers with sustainable nutrition solutions by 2030. For more information, visit www.kerry.com.
About Kameda
Kameda Seika is the leading Japanese producer of rice-based crackers and snacks and has maintained this position for nearly 50 consecutive years. Kameda now boasts approximately 40% share of the Japanese rice-based snack market. Outside of Japan, Kameda began its overseas expansion in 1989 in the US and has since established eight overseas bases in China, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, and the US. With a strong background in rice research, Kameda’s medium-term management plan primarily focuses on expanding its overseas product portfolio beyond rice-based snacks to include a wider array of food products, including rice-derived lactobacillus, plant-based foods, and rice flour bread. Kameda is dedicated to bringing joy to customers’ plates with rice-based nutrition and sustainable foods. For more information, please visit https://www.kamedaseika.co.jp/en/
