Food Labeling Systems in Japan: Nutrition and Health Claims

Japan is one of the countries with the highest life expectancy in the world, and maintaining good health is the key component to extend healthy life expectancy. According to World Health Organization, self-care is the ability to promote health, prevent disease, and maintain health. Food labels play an important role in healthy dietary habits for self-care. Food labels comprise nutrition claims and health claims. In Japan, the nutrition component exhibits the contents of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates, and salt equivalent, which are mandatory, and saturated fat and dietary fiber, which are recommended. On the other hand, the health portion exhibits health maintenance and health promotion by nutrients/ingredients in foods. Under the Food Labeling Act, foods allowed to display health claims, are specified as "Foods with Health Claims" in Japan. The Consumer Affairs Agency reported that most consumers could not utilize food labels, even though the nutrition label serves as a parameter for a healthier food choice. In this regard, front-of-pack labels (FOPLs), are a beneficial tool which encourages people to choose healthier foods, and conduct self-care. However, FOPLs is still unfamiliar in Japan, so we have to investigate which nutrients and which type of FOPLs are the best for Japanese people. In addition to FOPL promotion, education is important to get consumers using food labels for extending their healthy life expectancy.