GUTEN”, The protein drink that contains none of the 28 allergenic specified raw materials (according to the Japanese regulations on food labelling)

Many people are careful about what they consume in food and drinks. This is because they have food allergies and may take certain foods that may make them feel unwell. Therefore, it is very important for people with allergies to know if the food they eat contains allergens.

GUTEN, a carbonated beverage containing protein, has taken measures with people with food allergies in mind. GUTEN is free of 28 allergenic specified raw materials. In addition to GUTEN's food allergy countermeasures, we would like to introduce what food allergies are in the first place in this article.

What is a food allergy?

A food allergy is when a person eats or drinks food containing a specific substance and his/her body reacts to that substance, causing specific symptoms. The mechanism is that the body's immune system tries to eliminate the substance as foreign, even though it is not harmful.

Symptoms caused by this are varied. Typical examples are skin problems such as itching and clammy skin. Other problems include coughing, runny nose, and hoarse voice.

Food allergies can be life-threatening.

The symptoms caused by these food allergies are not always minor. Some can cause problems in multiple organs and can be life-threatening. It is called anaphylactic shock, which can cause a drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness.

Of course, this is life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Thus, food allergy should not be taken lightly, even if it is just an itch or a cough.

What causes food allergies?

In relation to food allergies, measures are taken to prevent accidental ingestion of things that cause allergies. Items that have been identified as causing food allergies must be labeled for use. Based on the symptoms and severity of the allergic reaction, some items are required to be labeled. These are the following eight items. If they are used, their use must be clearly indicated on the ingredients label.

Allergens that must be labeled

• Shrimp, crab, walnuts, wheat, buckwheat, eggs, milk, peanuts

Even if the symptoms and severity are not as severe as those reported for the above 8 items, labeling is recommended for those items that cause symptoms. These are the 20 items listed below.

Allergens for which labeling is recommended

• Almonds, abalone, squid, salmon roe, salmon roe, oranges, cashews, kiwi fruit, beef, sesame, salmon, mackerel, soybeans, chicken, bananas, pork, macadamia nuts, peaches, sweet potatoes, apples, gelatin

Thus, there are a total of 28 items that cause food allergies, 8 of which are required to be labeled and 20 of which are recommended to be labeled. Simply put, these are the ones that commonly cause food allergies.

GUTEN, the carbonated beverage containing protein that we produce, does not contain any of the 28 specified ingredients that cause food allergies. Therefore, the drink is designed with people with food allergies in mind.

GUTEN can be drunk by all kinds of people with special dietary needs

GUTEN is food allergy friendly, but it is also vegan so that many other people can enjoy it. Vegans are people who uphold the principle of not exploiting animals (living creatures) and do not eat meat, fish, milk, eggs, honey, etc. GUTEN does not use ingredients of animal origin.

GUTEN is an easy way for vegans to supply protein and we hope to serve a great variety of consumers with GUTEN.

Reference: Labeling of foods containing allergens - Consumer Affairs Agency