#Japan #Tokyo #Seikatsu Club #Eco-Shrimp #Choco-Age

Upcycling Shrimp Heads: The New Snack Revolution

Seikatsu Club, a well-known cooperative based in Shinjuku, Tokyo, is set to launch an innovative snack product called "Choco-Age (Savory Shrimp Flavor)" in January 2026. This unique creation aims to utilize the often-overlooked parts of shrimp—their heads—while focusing on domestically sourced ingredients.

The Choco-Age snack is a crispy rice cracker that incorporates the heads of shrimp from partnered producers, combined with domestically grown glutinous rice and a handful of natural ingredients. By upcycling these parts that have been underutilized until now, Seikatsu Club contributes to effective resource utilization and sustainability efforts in food production.

The shrimp heads come from the Eco-Shrimp initiative, where the shrimp are cultivated in a natural environment filled with mangroves. This unique habitat helps to develop the shrimp without the reliance on artificial feed or chemical additives, ensuring a healthy and environmentally friendly farming approach. Thus, enjoying this snack not only indulges your taste buds but also supports the conservation of the shrimp's natural habitat and the sustainability of its production.

Crafting the Perfect Snack

The crunchy base of the Choco-Age snack is crafted using high-quality Japanese round-grain glutinous rice. The crackers are fried at high temperatures using rice oil, delivering a light and crispy texture that enhances the overall experience. The ingredient list is refreshingly simple: glutinous rice, shrimp powder, salt, and frying oil—ensuring that every bite is packed with the delightful flavors of sweet rice and savory shrimp. So irresistible, you'll find it hard to stop once you start munching!

In terms of nutritional benefits, each bag of Choco-Age provides a significant calcium boost—equivalent to 96 mg, roughly the amount found in a cup of milk. This makes it a fantastic snack option for children, a delightful accompaniment for adult beverages, and an easy way for seniors to increase their daily calcium intake.

Product Information

• - Product Name: Choco-Age (Savory Shrimp Flavor)
• - Net Weight: 40g
• - Storage: Room Temperature
• - Shelf Life: 100 Days
• - Price: 316 JPY (tax included)
• - Partner Company: Seikado Arare Main Store

What is Eco-Shrimp?

The Eco-Shrimp initiative by Seikatsu Club focuses on the Black Tiger shrimp cultivated in Indonesia. These shrimp are raised in a rich ecosystem where natural mangroves grow, allowing them to feed on naturally occurring plankton without dependency on artificial inputs or harmful medicines. This environmentally harmonious approach maintains the shrimp's natural flavor and freshness through strict processing methods that avoid thawing. No additives, such as moisture retainers or preservatives, are used, ensuring the highest quality product reaches consumers. Choosing to consume these shrimp means supporting the preservation of the local environment and aiding the livelihoods of the people in those regions by fostering sustainable production practices.

About Seikatsu Club

Established in 1965 with around 420,000 members, Seikatsu Club is a cooperative encompassing 33 regional consumer co-ops across 21 prefectures. They emphasize the delivery of safe food products that meet their stringent criteria focused on domestic sourcing, reduced additives, and pesticide minimization. Through collective purchasing activities that are mindful of health and environmental impact from production to disposal, Seikatsu Club strives to create a sustainable society while promoting local SDGs that encompass connectedness and cohabitation across generations and regions.

• - Website: Seikatsu Club
• - Instagram: Seikatsu Club IG
• - Membership & Info Requests: Join Here

Award Recognition

Seikatsu Club has received numerous accolades, both nationally and internationally, for their contributions to sustainability and consumer satisfaction. Some notable mentions include:

• - 1989 Honorary Award from the Right Livelihood Laureates (often referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize")
• - Multiple Good Design Awards for innovative packaging and eco-friendly initiatives throughout the years.

Seikatsu Club represents a model of sustainability in food production and community involvement, promising not only to satisfy consumers but also to nurture the planet for future generations.