Consumer Health and Safety
From health care trends that are gaining attention and consumers nowadays pay more attention to food and beverages, OISHI is well aware of consumer demand trends. Therefore, the products are developed by taking into account the health and needs of consumers according to the current market situation, and has set a goal for the health and safety of consumers that by 2030, 80% of sales in the non-alcoholic beverage business will come from healthy beverages, and 75% of non-alcoholic beverage products must be certified as “Healthier Choice” products with the following actions:
1. Sourcing High-quality Ingredients
OISHI selects quality ingredients that meet the Company’s requirements to produce quality, safe, and healthy food and beverages for consumers, with the following principles:
• Using international standards (Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)) for select partners to ensure that they can produce safe products that meet FAO/WHO requirements.
• Select and check food ingredients that are quality and safe, certified by the GMP standard from the Thai FDA at least.
• For the procurement and selection process of ingredients for the production of green tea beverages, OISHI evaluated GMOs where its ingredients in the tea leaf, fructose, concentrate group, and natural extracts, must have a certificate certifying that they are Non-GMOs.
2. Research and Development for Good Health and Nutrition
• World-class standard production system and machinery to ensure its quality and safety in all of OISHI’s beverages and food factories.
• OISHI Green Tea products aim to be healthy products for consumers, which many products have received Healthier Choice Logo, such as OISHI Gold products.
• OISHI restaurants have created food menus that take into account good nutritional benefits. It is a healthy alternative food group that can control the amount of nutrients in order to be a healthy choice for consumers and to gain the certification of the “Healthier Choice Logo” from the Institute of Nutrition in the future.
• Choose raw materials for cooking that do not contain trans fats.
• Communicate nutrient and nutritional information to create awareness of healthy products to consumers through GDA labeling, Nutrition Table, nutrient benefits, and Healthier Choice Logo.
• Choose plastics for packaging that are in direct contact with food that comply with specific packaging legislation, such as plastics according to MOPH 295/2548.
• Use natural cleaning products to clean the restaurant, including kitchen equipment cleaners, floor cleaners, hand soaps, disinfectant sprays, air-circulation system cleaners, to ensure the safety of users who use the service. This is because it is a natural extract that is effective in cleaning and disinfecting well, environmentally friendly and without residue that is harmful to health. In 2022, the cleaning solution was used at 47 OISHI chain restaurants in Bangkok and its vicinity, comprising 33 OISHI Ramen restaurants and 14 Kakashi restaurants. In addition, cleaning manuals are also available in QR Code format to reduce paper consumption.
3. Having a Standardized Production Process
OISHI places great importance and attention on every step of the production process, meticulously controlling the quality and safety of production, storage, transportation and service, as well as traceability processes to the source of ingredients, with international standards, which cover environment, safety and consumers such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 22000, GMP and HACCP.
Factory: OISHI focuses on quality and safety in every step from the production process to delivering good products to customers. The Company has been certified in various fields as follows:
• OISHI TRADING CO., LTD. has passed the ISO 9001:2015 certification for quality management system and the GHP & HACCP Codex 2020 for risk management and food safety systems from SGS (Thailand) CO., LTD.
• OISHI TRADING CO., LTD. has passed the FSSC 22000 Version 5.1 food safety system certification for the production of OISHI cold packaged and bottled beverages from SGS (Thailand). The system covers administrative responsibilities, resource management, production planning, and production of safe products, as well as service management, food defense, food fraud prevention, and product labeling. This is in addition to what is required by the ISO 22000 system from SGS (Thailand) CO., LTD.
• All beverage products of OISHI TRADING CO., LTD. have been certified the Halal Food Standard (HALAL) by the Central Islamic Council of Thailand.
• Calibration Laboratory of OISHI TRADING CO., LTD. has been accredited for the ISO/IEC 17025 for calibration laboratory standard in accordance with conditions of laboratory accreditation from the Thai Industrial Standards Institute.
• The analytical laboratory of OISHI TRADING CO., LTD. has been accredited the ISO/IEC 17025 testing laboratory standards in accordance with the conditions of laboratory accreditation from the Department of Science Service and the Department of Medical Sciences.
• All Japanese restaurants under OISHI GROUP PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED have passed the GMP and HACCP certification from SGS (Thailand) CO., LTD.
• OISHI FOOD SERVICE CO., LTD. has been certified the GMP and HACCP for risk management system and food safety standards for all food products from SGS (Thailand), and for gyoza products for export from the Department of Livestock Development, Department of Fisheries and Department of Agriculture.
• OISHI FOOD SERVICE CO., LTD. has been certified the BRC (British Retail Consortium) Issue 8 of the United Kingdom Retail Business Association for food safety management system for all gyoza products from SGS (Thailand) CO., LTD.
• OISHI FOOD SERVICE CO., LTD. has been certified the Green Industry System standard for environmental management system, and the ISO 14001:2015 for environmental management system for all food production processes.
• The analytical laboratory of OISHI FOOD SERVICE CO., LTD. has been accredited the ISO/IEC 17025 for testing laboratory standards in accordance with the conditions of laboratory accreditation from the Department of Medical Sciences.
• OISHI TRADING CO., LTD.’s Navanakorn and Wang Muang Factories received the ISO 14001:2015 certification for environmental management system from SGS (Thailand) CO., LTD.
• OISHI TRADING CO., LTD.’s Navanakorn and Wang Muang Factories have been certified the ISO 45001:2018 & TIS 45001-2561 for management system and occupational health and safety from SGS (Thailand) CO., LTD.
• OISHI TRADING CO., LTD.’s Navanakorn and Wang Muang Factories have been certified the ISO 50001:2018 for energy management system from SGS (Thailand) CO., LTD.
• OISHI TRADING CO., LTD. received the “FDA Quality Award” 3 years in a row (from 2017-2019) from the Food and Drug Administration.
• OISHI TRADING CO., LTD.’s Navanakorn and Wang Muang Factories have certified themselves as establishments that comply with measures to control, monitor and prevent COVID-19 contamination in their premises, production processes and personnel according to the criteria of IPHA Self-Assessment by the Federation of Thai Industries, Department of Disease Control, Food Institute and ISO Certification Institute. In addition, all OISHI TRADING Factories are self-certified as establishments that comply with clean, safe and COVID-19 control measures in accordance with The Thai Stop COVID Plus self-assessment criteria by the Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health.
• OISHI TRADING CO., LTD.’s Wang Muang factory received the honorary award for the outstanding establishment on safety, occupational health and working environment for the year 2021 (Gold level) from the Ministry of Labor as its 4th consecutive year.
• OISHI Trading Co., Ltd.'s Amata Nakorn factory has been certified for normal temperature production processes, GHP and HACCP systems from SGS (Thailand) for the production of various bottled sauces.
Restaurant: Focus on improving the quality, hygiene and safety of food, to meet customer satisfaction and maintain the highest level of confidence with effective management systems and operations according to international standards, and to improve continually for good effectiveness. This ensures that every menu item is safe, as the cooking procedures in the restaurant must comply with international standards and are certified the GHP and HACCP standards by SGS, and can be traced effectively. It has to be verified through the CCP (Critical Control Point) regularly.
Transportation: There is a management system and raw material transportation with a Cold Chain Logistics system that meets international standards, certified by GHP and HACCP (Codex Alimentarius Commission - CAC).
Awards and Certifications, Accreditation and Trusted Branding
• OISHI, the Company’s market-leading authentic Japanese-style green tea brand, received the Thailand’s Most Admired Brand award of the year 202/ as a brand that is reliable and the number 1 green tea brand in consumers’ hearts in the ready-to-drink tea category for 11 consecutive years (2012-2022) from BrandAge magazine, which has conducted research with leading academic institutions in all regions of the country for efficiency and accurate results.
• OISHI Trading Company Limited has received “certified labor skill standards of professionals in the field of electrical, electronic and computer technicians, bottle filling machine process controllers (cold packing in sterile conditions) Level 1” from the Department of Skill Development, Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare. This is to create a quality assurance system for craftsmanship and skills of CAF-Filler Operators.
4. Creation of Healthy Products
OISHI is continually researching and developing food and beverages in order to maximize the portion of products that are healthy but still maintain the original taste. The product development policy that focuses on nutrition consists of 3 important parts :
4.1 Sugar Reduction
OISHI Green Tea drinks have reduced its sugar content, such as OISHI Green Tea Watermelon Flavor, as well as developed new products with no sugar and less sweet formulas, so that the products continuously received the “Healthier Choice Logo” certification from the Nutrition Promotion Foundation, Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University. The latest healthy products are:
- OISHI Honey Lemon Green Tea 0% Sugar: OISHI Honey Lemon Green Tea is a very popular and familiar flavor that customers have been familiar with for a long time. Therefore, OISHI has developed a new alternative product that is healthier, OISHI Green Tea, Honey Lemon, 0% sugar, responding to the trend of health-conscious consumers and those who are concerned about sugar consumption. The product features a delicious, refreshing and healthier taste without sugar, so customers can drink it often without having to worry about sugar. OISHI Green Tea Honey Lemon 0% sugar is made from high quality young tea leaves and is rich in the benefits of catechins. It has the unique scent of real Hyakkamitsu honey from Japan, perfectly matched with the sourness of a fine lemon. Most importantly, there are catechins from quality tea leaves that help fight free radicals, enhance immunity and slow down the deterioration of the body.
- OISHI Green Tea Original Flavor with 0% Sugar provides refreshing deliciousness without sugar with a familiar taste. It allows consumers to easily take care of themselves with a bottle full of benefits, both quality catechins from quality tea leaves that help fight free radicals and boost immunity, good for health guaranteed by the Healthier Choice mark. Health consumers can be confident.
- OISHI Gold Wakoucha: A rare and short-lived premium grade Japanese tea, selected only the youngest tea leaves that have been completely naturally fermented, giving a unique aroma and flavor that is intense and deep smooth, and easy to drink. The product has less sugar. It contains ‘Theaflavins’ that stimulate fat burning and contains fiber that increases waste in the digestive tract, thereby stimulating the excretion. OISHI Gold Wakoucha comes in two flavors: Lemon Delight formula, which is sour, less sweet, and low in calories, and Sugar Free formula.
- OISHI Chakulza Kyoho Grape Flavor: Green Tea Soda adds a delicious, fizzy, aromatic, from Kyoho Grape scent without worrying about sugar, guaranteed by receiving the Healthier Choice logo.
Products that have received the “Healthier Choice” certification include: OISHI Green Tea Original Flavor, OISHI Green Tea Japanese Rice Flavor, OISHI Gold Gyokuro Green Tea No Sugar and Delight Formula, OISHI Green Tea Gold Genmaicha Sugar Free and Delight Formula, OISHI Gold Kabusecha Green Tea Sugar Free and Delight Formula, OISHI Gold Sencha Green Tea with Matcha Sugar Free and Delight Formula, OISHI Gold Wakocha, OISHI Green Tea Plus C Orange Flavor with Coconut Jelly, OISHI Green Tea Watermelon Flavor, OISHI Green Tea Honey Apple Flavor Sugar Free formula, and OISHI Green Tea, Chakulza, Kyoho Grape Flavor.
4.2 Sodium reduction
OISHI EATO ready-to-eat food products, including gyoza, miso soup and gyoza, sukiyaki soup, have been reduced in sodium content from the original recipe. In addition, the company also invented and developed ready-to-eat recipes for the bento group (ready-to-eat ramen) to be free from MSG and preservatives, and ready to expand to other products in the future.
4.3 Increase nutrients and nutritional value
• OISHI Plus C Green Tea responds to the new lifestyle and health trend by adding 200% vitamin C benefits, which is the same amount as other vitamin C-containing beverages available in the market. Vitamin C strengthens the immune system while green tea provides antioxidants with the delicious and fun flavor of coconut jelly. OISHI Plus C Green Tea comes in 2 flavors: Kyoho grape flavored green tea mixed with coconut jelly and vitamin C, and orange green tea mixed with coconut jelly and vitamin C.
• OISHI Gold Genmaicha Green Tea High Vitamin B1, B6 and B12: Japanese roasted rice tea that combines the benefits of Japanese roasted rice tea and B vitamins, which contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system and brain Along with the benefits of stress relief from L-Theanin benefits found in green tea. OISHI Gold Genmaicha Green Tea comes in 2 flavors: No sugar and Delight (less sweet).
• Plant-Based Protein: OISHI has developed a healthy menu made from Plant-Based Protein such as golden peas, soybeans (Non-GMO), shiitake mushrooms and high-protein rice, to serve customers during the Vegetarian Festival, such as the Vegetarian Basil Stir-Fried Ramen menu sold at OISHI Ramen.
• Special Menu that used ZEA Tuna Essence Soup as ingredients in the ZEA Tuna Essence Soup menu, Yuzu and Zaru Ramen, and Tempura, which are special menu available at OISHI Ramen only during August – September 2022.
• Cereal Sandwiches: OISHI EATO continues to create a range of healthy products, especially cereal sandwiches, such as wheat, barley, soybean, malt, including Smoked Chicken Breast Sandwich with BBQ Sauce; Tuna Sandwich with Sweet Egg and Nori Seaweed; Smoked Chicken Breast Cereal Sandwich with Whey Egg Salad; Chicken Breast Tonkatsu Mixed Grain Sandwich; and Tuna Wasabi Mayo Mixed Grain Sandwich. These healthy products provide a full range of benefits from multigrain sandwich bread (produced from a wide range of specially selected grains, wheat – barley – soybeans). They come to the latest products, including Japanese-style sauce chicken breast mixed grain sandwich, that comes with a dense filling of tender chicken breast mixed with a unique Japanese style sauce, which is suitable for morning or snack during the day.
4.4 Trans Fat Avoidance
OISHI selects and uses ingredients without trans fat in all food production.