Ensuring Product Safety and Reliability in the Alcoholic beverages & Soft drinks Business
Our Approaches in our Alcoholic beverages & Soft drinks Business
Our Quality Assurance Practices in the Value Chain in Japan
Based on the Kirin Group’s Quality Policy and the Commitments to Action, we have implemented an end-to-end quality assurance system that applies to every step of the value chain—from product and service development through to the delivery of products and services to consumers.
Safety of Our Materials
We have established guidelines for ensuring the safety of materials (ingredients, packaging containers, etc.) to ensure the safety of raw materials we employ.
We regularly and routinely collect risk information related to safety information from both domestic and international government agencies and research institutions, and when using and adopting raw materials, we refer to and use this information to confirm their safety and determine standards for safety.
We also have a system in place that allows us to take appropriate measures and actions as necessary based on risk information related to safety even after raw materials are adopted.
Radioactive Substances
Regarding radioactive substances, we conduct product analysis at a frequency determined by each plant.
In addition, we routinely check government monitoring information, etc. on water and agricultural products used as raw materials.
Genetic modification
We comply with the Food Sanitation Act regarding the use of genetically modified agricultural products and processed foods made from them.
Furthermore, we do not use genetically modified raw materials that are required to be labeled under the GMO labeling system.
Pesticide Residues
We ensures that the raw materials used in its products are safe and meet the residue standards of the Food Sanitation Act through the following methods, etc.
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Confirmation of management status including analysis results of agricultural chemical residues at raw material suppliers
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Confirmation of information on domestic and international violations for similar raw materials
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Collection of other risk information on agricultural chemical residues, etc.
Food Additives
We evaluate food additives approved by the Food Sanitation Act and use according to their purposes. In addition, we use food additives in accordance with the standards of the Food Sanitation Act.
Allergens
We obtain allergen information on the raw materials we use and properly manage them to ensure that there is no contamination with allergens other than those indicated on the product.
Specified ingredients are displayed not only for foods that are required to be labeled, but also for alcoholic beverages that do not have labeling requirements.
Basic Policy on Disclosing Information Regarding the Safety of Our Products and Services
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1.We collect up-to-date information regarding the safety of our products and services.
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2.When we receive a report of a safety issue with a product or service, we will collect more information regarding the reliability and implication of the report.
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3.We analyze and scrutinize the collected information scientifically, using the full range of the Kirin Group’s technology and organizational assets.
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4.If the analysis validates the report and finds that the product or service in question might affect consumers’ health, we will disclose it to the public immediately.
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5.If we determine that there is a probability that the product or service in question might be harmful to consumers’ health, we will stop marketing it, recall it, or take whatever action is necessary voluntarily.
Food Safety and Quality Assurance Center
The Food Safety and Quality Assurance Center of Kirin Holdings conducts tests and analyses for Kirin Group companies to ensure quality and safety across the value chain.
The Center consolidates groupwide knowledge and resources related to quality assurance and works with Group companies to conduct sophisticated and comprehensive quality assurance.
Its responsibilities include analyzing for safety not only raw materials and finished products sourced and manufactured by Group companies but also products under development, products returned by consumers for quality reasons, and manufacturing processes. It also develops and upgrades analysis and evaluation methods, and checks and improves the level of accuracy of testing procedures followed by value-chain actors and suppliers.
The Center analyzes and evaluates the quality and safety of malt, fruit juice, and other raw materials to be used to manufacture beverage products as well as those of water and steam. More specifically, the Center tests the quality of farm produce, which is prone to be affected by weather and other external factors, to ensure that Kirin plants use quality-approved materials. It also checks the level of residual agricultural chemicals and heavy metal that might be present in raw materials to ensure it is safe to use them.
The Center develops and upgrades technologies necessary to conduct wide-ranging physical and chemical tests and analyses, the results of which are used to develop new technologies and products as well as improve manufacturing processes in Kirin Group plants.
The Center uses sophisticated equipment and technologies to analyze products returned by consumers for quality reasons to identify causes of problems and share the results with plants so that they can continually improve the manufacturing processes and product quality.
The Center evaluates the risks of microbial contamination that might affect raw materials, products, and manufacturing processes across the value chain. It also comes up with new methods of microbial control and tests as part of its efforts to assist Group companies in exercising more effective microbial control. In addition, the Center helps Kirin Group plants and suppliers maintain or improve the accuracy of their microbial tests, and develops and upgrades technologies to test for, identify, and control microbes.
