When the Group started research and development regarding food allergies in about 1996, social awareness concerning food allergies was by no means high. The motivation for the Group to start research and development on allergen-free foods was a sincere request from a customer to develop ham and sausage that even children with food allergies can eat with confidence.
Processed foods such as ham and sausage use milk components and egg white as binders and for other purposes. The Group undertook research and development of products that do not use these allergens and managed to market them on a commercial basis. Allergen-free foods started with ham and sausage, and the lineup was expanded to hamburgers and rice flour bread. In addition, the Group’s initiatives were not limited to allergen-free foods, but also included development of allergen testing kits, provision of allergen-free recipes, and dissemination of information through seminars.

1996

Started research and development regarding food allergies

1997

Developed the Apilite of allergen-free products

1998

Development of low-allergen technology for meat products, conducted under consignment to the private sector by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and Apilite selected as top 10 results among Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries research projects

1999

Acquired approval to label Apilite as allergen-free foods from the Ministry of Health and Welfare (currently the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

2000

The Group participated in analysis of allergens in meats and Specified Ingredient Detection Methods Investigation Committee, research outsourced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (currently the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

2002

Developed and launched FASTKIT^® ELISA Series of food allergen testing kits
FASTKIT^® ELISA Series appeared in “Test methods for food products containing allergic substances,” a notice issued by the Director of the Department of Food Safety, Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Department of Food Safety, Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Notification No. 1106001)

2003

Created Food Allergy Net, a food allergy information website

Developed and launched FASTKIT Slim of rapid food allergen testing kits, which can test for food allergens in about 15 minutes

2004

Nipponham Northeast Ltd. launched the Minna-no-Shokutaku^® series of ham and sausage products that do not contain specified allergen ingredients

2005

Awarded the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Research Council Chairman’s Award by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
The Allergy Research Group of the Research & Development Center selected research and development of low-allergen meat products and food allergen detection technologies as a research topic

Developed and launched FASTKIT^® ELISA Ver. II Series and FASTKIT^® Western Blot Series
FASTKIT^® ELISA Ver. II Series included in partial revision of “Test methods for food products containing allergic substances,” a notice issued by the head of the Department of Food Sanitation, Pharmaceutical and Medical Safety Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Department of Food Safety, Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Notification Notice No. 1011002)

2006

Launched a recipe book with a collection of recipes made with foods free of egg, milk, flour, soybeans, and rice, in collaboration with The Orangepage Inc.

2007

Nipponham Northeast Ltd. established special-purpose factory for allergen-free products

2008

Held the first food allergy course, entitled “Learn, Make, Delicious Smile”

2009

Developed and launched FASTKIT^® Slim Series of rapid food allergen testing kits

Launched rice flour bread as a part of the Minna-no-Shokutaku^® series

2014

“Favorite Recipes for People with Food Allergies: Delicious and Healthy Snacks and Meals,” a collection of recipes made with allergen-free foods, written by the NH Foods Ltd. Research & Development Center

Launched FASTKIT^® ELISA Ver. III Series.
Added sesame to the test lineup

2015

Established Nipponham Foundation in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture

2017

Nipponham Foundation received certification as a public interest incorporated foundation from the Prime Minister and began operations