Food allergies can result in critical symptoms even in cases of exposure to small amounts of allergens. In 2000, NH Foods Ltd. participated in research conducted under consignment from the Ministry of Health and Welfare (currently the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) to develop a system for allergen labeling, and based on the research results, launched the FASTKIT® Eliza of allergen testing kits. Operating a food labeling system requires confirmation of food allergens using testing kits, and today, many food makers and public testing organizations use these testing kits as essential tools for ensuring the safety of foods.
In addition, the Nipponham Foundation*, established in 2015, provides research support to research groups and researchers nationwide with the aims of promoting further research on food allergies and finding scientific solutions.
Note: Renamed the Nipponham Foundation Public Interest Incorporated Foundation in 2017.
Development and Launch of Testing Kits
In many cases, individuals with food allergies can react as a result of exposure to even small quantities of allergens. Such reactions can result in life-threatening symptoms, making proper labeling essential.
When a system for food allergen labeling was being investigated, calls were also made for the development of allergen testing technologies to support proper operation of the system. In 2000, NH Foods Ltd. participated in research conducted under consignment from the Ministry of Health and Welfare (currently the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) and in 2002 developed the FASTKIT® Eliza of testing kits. These kits employ the methods for confirming whether food ingredients contain allergens that were established in the process of developing allergen-free foods.
In 2003, NH Foods developed the FASTKIT Immunochromato (updated as the FASTKIT Slim in 2009), which can detect allergens in about 15 minutes, for selective use according to the purpose. The FASTKIT® Eliza was updated as the FASTKIT® Eliza Ver. II in 2005 and was included in partial revision of “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 Notice No. 1011002).
In addition, the FASTKIT® Eliza Ver. II was updated as the FASTKIT® Eliza Ver. III , which does not use any non-pharmaceutical toxins in 2014.
These testing kits are used by many food makers and public testing organizations and have become essential tools for ensuring the safety of foods.
FASTKIT® Eliza Ver. III
Can be used to test a wide range of materials from ingredients to processed foods, making it ideal for verifying labeling of ingredients or final products.
FASTKIT® Slim
Use is simple—a test reagent is dropped onto a sample, and the presence or absence of a magenta line is confirmed 15 minutes later—making this product ideal for use in day-to-day management at manufacturing sites such as for confirming proper cleaning of manufacturing equipment.
The lineup includes test substances: egg, milk, wheat, buckwheat, peanut, and soybean.