Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Nutraceuticals
August 27, 2015
Omugi Gohan Barley Rice from OMUGI SEIKATSU Receive Food with Function Claims Labels specify three benefits, including control of glucose absorption
- Two Omugi Gohan barley rice items in the OMUGI SEIKATSU line of products focusing on the health benefits barley beta-glucans, a type of soluble dietary fiber found in large quantities in barley, will be released with new packaging as Foods with Function Claims on September 1, 2015.
- Labels will specify three specific benefits, control of glucose absorption, reduction of cholesterol, and adjusting intestinal environment. The two Omugi Gohan barley rice items will be the first rice-type products to go on sale as Foods with Function Claims*1.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (Head Office: Tokyo, Japan; President: Tatsuo Higuchi) has announced the September 1, 2015 renewal of two Omugi Gohan items from the OMUGI SEIKATSU line of products focusing on the health benefits of barly beta-glucans. Omugi Gohan and Omugi Gohan Japanese-Style will appear in new packaging displaying three specific function claims including control of glucose absorption. Omugi Gohan barley rice products will be available in their new packaging from September 1 through the official Otsuka Pharmaceutical's online store "Otsuka-Plus 1", with retail launch following on September 14. These two Omugi Gohan items are the first rice-type products to be accepted as Foods with Function Claims*1.
- 1Omugi Gohan and Omugi Gohan Japanese-Style barley rice products from the OMUGI SEIKATSU line are the first rice-type products to be accepted by the Consumer Affairs Agency as Foods with Function Claims.
- 2Basic information regarding scientific basis for function claims is available on the Consumer Affairs Agency website (in Japanese)
REFERENCE
About OMUGI SEIKATSU
Barley beta-glucans, a type of soluble dietary fiber found in large quantities in barley, has been recognized in the US and Europe as having a variety of health benefits. Compared to other Gramineae grasses, barley beta-glucans are found in greater quantities in barley grains (approx.3 - 6%). However, the distinctive flavor and difficulty of processing have been barriers to commercialization of barley products. Otsuka Pharmaceutical focused on the functional value of barley, and used a type of barley that contains beta-glucans in greater quantities (approx. 10%) in the development of OMUGI SEIKATSU, launched in September 2013 as a convenient way to consume barely beta-glucans.
Appealing breakfast items that encourage people to adopt new health management habits from first thing in the morning, the OMUGI SEIKATSU line includes two types of Omugi Gohan, delivering 3,000mg of barley beta-glutans per serving, as well as Omugi Crackers and Omugi Soup (Cream and Corn flavors), each containing 1,000mg of barley beta-glucans per serving.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Approach to Food with Function Claims
As a health care company, Otsuka Pharmaceutical is dedicated to providing products developed with a scientific basis nurtured through pharmaceutical businesses to promote and maintain everyday health and wellbeing. With the adoption of the new Food with Function Claims labeling system, we believe that clear and easily understandable labels will contribute to consumer safety by promoting and encouraging proper product selection. In addition to our efforts to extend healthy life expectancy, we will continue to provide quality products based on scientific evidence that contribute to healthy and rewarding daily lives for men and women of all ages.
Based on our corporate philosophy of 'Otsuka-people creating new products for better health worldwide,' Otsuka Pharmaceutical is dedicated to the development of innovative products that contribute to the health of people around the world.