[Updated] Japan Formulates the Standard for Textured Soy Protein Products

On February 24, 2022, the MAFF officially approved the Japanese Agricultural Standard for Textured Soy Protein Products. The standard comes into force immediately on February 26, 2022.

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On November 5, 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF) released the draft of Japanese Agricultural Standard for Textured Soy Protein Products. The supervision on "Soy meat foods" and "prepared soy meat foods" will be standardized. Any comments can be submitted via the online feedback form official website before December 4, 2021.

In September 2021, Japan MAFF announced that it would formulate Japanese agricultural standards for soybean meat, including the scope of application, terms, definitions, production methods, and labels. In recent years, affected by the growing awareness of environmental protection, animal welfare, health protection, and consideration of food shortages, soy (plant-based) meat, which can replace meat products, has gradually become popular in the global market. Japan is also in desperate need of standards that can supervise this kind of substitute meat. 

Requirements

• Product form

As revealed by the draft, the meat-like characteristics peculiar to both "soy meat foods" and "prepared soy meat foods" includes texture-like feature (such as meat-like graininess and fibrous texture), morphological feature (such as minced meat-like, fillet-like, slice-like, and block-like).

• Production methods

Soy meat foods:

1. Using soy meat ingredients with an amino acid score (different essential amino acids are contained in a well-balanced proportion) of 100;

2. Without any animal ingredient;

3. With 10% or more soy protein content.

Prepared soy meat foods:

1. Without any animal ingredient (excluding edible bird eggs and milk);

2. With 1% or more soy protein content.

• Labeling

"Soy meat food" and "modified soybean meat food" shall be marked in a conspicuous place of the container packaging. However, the processed foods for business use can be indicated in invoices, delivery notices or specifications.