#Japan #Osaka #Disclosure Request #Kobayashi Pharmaceutical #Red Koji

Introduction

Kunsui Club Co., Ltd. from Okayama Prefecture recently took significant steps in demanding transparency from Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. regarding the manufacturing process of their product, Red Koji Cures Health. The company submitted a formal request for the disclosure of administrative documents related to the fermentation method utilized for this health product, which has raised numerous questions and concerns within the food safety community.

Disclosure Request and Ongoing Dispute

On December 3, 2022, Kunsui Club submitted a public disclosure request to Osaka City, seeking insights into the production methods of Red Koji Cures Health. However, on December 16, Osaka's Health Department responded by partially refusing to disclose critical documents, including manufacturing specifications, ingredient flow processes, and cultivation conditions, leading to significant frustration from Kunsui Club. Unwilling to accept the decision, Kunsui Club filed a request for further examination on January 5, 2023. Nine months later, on September 3, Osaka City sent a note by the city's mayor stating their rationale for withholding information, prompting Kunsui Club to submit a detailed counterargument on September 7.

The core issue lies in the cultivation strains and methods utilized in the production of Red Koji Cures Health, which remain undisclosed. Kunsui Club insists that transparency is paramount, especially when it comes to methods that affect consumers' health and safety.

The Manufacturing Method in Question

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical previously announced that their fermentation method for Red Koji involves a process lasting approximately 50 days. This information was highlighted in a press release from 2018 and was also available on their Central Research Institute’s website, although it has since been removed. Kunsui Club asserts that the company should be held accountable to disclose the same proprietary information for a product that is available in the market.

The debate around public health safety intensifies due to the fact that as of June 2021, all food-related businesses are required to comply with HACCP regulations, ensuring food safety through scientifically backed processing methods. Kunsui Club contends that the Health Department’s refusal to disclose the methods used raises concerns about compliance with these safety standards.

Insights from Industry Experience

Masamasa Mori, the representative of Kunsui Club and an experienced professional in fermented food production, shared insights based on 28 years of industry experience. He emphasized that food products taking extended durations to produce require specific barriers to limit microbial growth. Examples such as dry-cured hams, miso, vinegar, and premium sake illustrate that while short periods promote fermentation, longer durations of microbial activity without intervention are uncommon in safe food production.

In Mori’s professional outlook, he indicates that he has not encountered any food that manages to sustain microbial activity for as long as 50 days without some form of limiting intervention, challenging the validity of Kobayashi’s proclaimed method and the city’s reluctance to open its production practices to scrutiny.

What Kunsui Club Seeks with Their Counterarguments

Kunsui Club asserts that the fermentation method, previously disclosed by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, should not have been redacted in the public documents. In their counterarguments, they have requested clarification from Osaka City concerning the reasoning behind the nondisclosure of information that has already been made public, as well as whether any consultations with independent experts or parties were made during their decision-making processes.

Timeline of Events

• - December 3, 2022: Kunsui Club requests public documents regarding Red Koji Cures Health.
• - December 16, 2022: Osaka City issues a decision to partially disclose documents, withholding details about the manufacturing process.
• - January 5, 2023: Kunsui Club files a request for further review.
• - September 3, 2023: Osaka City sends notification on their stance from the mayor.
• - September 7, 2023: Kunsui Club counters the mayor’s note with a rebuttal document.

Conclusion

This issue of non-disclosure concerning Red Koji’s manufacturing process has sparked a large conversation about transparency within the food industry, especially regarding health impacts. Kunsui Club aims to protect consumer rights and ensure that safe practices are embraced uniformly across the industry.

Additional Information

Kunsui Club has also launched an official LINE account to promote awareness about red koji culture and share vital updates on the recent development pertaining to public disclosure requests.