The saying that man cannot live by bread alone seems to have been taken to heart by Japanese food manufacturers.Maruha Nichiro Foods Inc. is set to release a spread with grilled salmon flakes in March. Based in Tokyo’s Koto Ward, the company has been making the product as a condiment to be served with rice for nearly 30 years.
“We want to change the image that grilled salmon flakes should be only eaten with rice,” said a Maruha Nichiro representative.
A survey by Maruha Nichiro of 200 mothers of school-age children found that more than 90 percent of the women served bread as part of breakfast.
This prompted the company to produce grilled salmon flakes for bread.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a major ingredient of fish oil, has been added to the product to help moisturize the spread as well as for the health benefits the omega-3 fatty acid has for young children.
“You can take in protein easily (from our product), instead of ham and eggs," said Miwa Yamaguchi, who is in charge of marketing at Maruha Nichiro. "We want consumers to see it as an option for their bread-based meals.”
Ibaraki Prefecture's Takano Foods Co., known for the Okame Natto brand, began marketing “gopan natto,” which goes well with bread, last autumn.
The company said there was a ready-made market as about 7 percent of Japanese routinely eat natto with bread.
via AJW
