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Yoshikei and Ajinomoto's Exciting Collaboration

In a significant initiative to combat food waste, Yoshikei Group, a prominent meal kit delivery service based in Shizuoka, Japan, has teamed up with Ajinomoto Co., Inc., a Tokyo-based leader in food products. This partnership marks the unveiling of a unique collaboration menu under the banner "Don’t Waste It!™"—a project by Ajinomoto dedicated to minimizing food loss by highlighting the use of every part of ingredients.

The collaborative menu will debut in the Smile & Table menu book on October 27, featuring the standout dish, Whole Bell Pepper Wrapped in Pork with Balsamic Sauce. What’s innovative about this dish is its approach to utilizing parts of the bell pepper that are often overlooked, such as the stems and seeds, allowing consumers to experience and enjoy the entire vegetable. By cooking at the right temperature, the natural sweetness and flavor of the bell pepper are preserved, offering a delightful and nutritious meal option for all ages.

Details of the Collaborative Dish

Whole Bell Pepper Wrapped in Pork

Set to be delivered as part of the Balance Meal course on October 30, this dish transforms often discarded parts of the bell pepper into a delicious meal choice. The significant softening of the bell pepper during cooking enhances its enjoyable taste while also promoting waste reduction.

Accompanied by a harmonious balsamic vinegar sauce enriched with consomme and sugar, the meal strikes a perfect balance between tanginess and sweetness, ensuring that it can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

Understanding the "Don’t Waste It!™" Initiative

The Don’t Waste It!™ initiative by Ajinomoto was launched to address the everyday food waste that occurs in households, which amounts to about one bowl of food waste per person per day. Rather than merely reducing waste, this project aims to create new value from what would otherwise be discarded, showcasing recipes and ideas that utilize every part of an ingredient, no matter how small.

Encouraging a mindset where everything can be put to use has been pivotal for Ajinomoto, whose decades-long expertise in food technology continues to shape and inspire delicious, waste-conscious culinary experiences for customers.

Insights from the Meal Kit Development Team

The Yoshikei development team, led by registered dietitians from the BtoC Business Headquarters, crafted the Whole Bell Pepper Wrapped in Pork using accessible ingredients and seasonings that could be replicated in meal kits. Extensive testing and feedback exchanges with Ajinomoto led to the final selection of this dish, celebrated for both its