Yakult

Yakult's ingredients are water, skimmed milk, glucose-fructose syrup, sucrose, natural flavours (citrus), and live Lacticaseibacillus casei Shirota bacteria.{{cite web |url=https://www.yakultusa.com/products/yakult/ |title=Yakult product information and nutrition facts |date=19 December 2015 |publisher=Yakult U.S.A. Inc. |access-date=2023-01-31 |archive-date=7 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907100519/http://www.yakultusa.com/products/yakult/ |url-status=live }} The strain was originally classified as being Lactobacillus casei.

Yakult is prepared by adding glucose to skimmed milk and heating the mixture at 90 to 95 °C for about 30 minutes. After letting it cool down to 45 °C, the mixture is inoculated with the lactobacillus and incubated for 6 to 7 days at 37 to 38 °C. After fermentation, water, sugar, gums, and lactic acid are added.{{citation |contribution=Milk and Dairy Products |title=Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry |edition=7th |year=2007 |doi=10.1002/14356007.a16_589.pub3| last1=Jost |first1=Rolf |isbn=978-3527306732 }}

File:Delivery of Yakult drinks by bicycle, Fukushima City.jpg drinks on a Yakult-branded bicycle in Fukushima City, Japan, 2009]]

In 2006, a panel appointed by the Netherlands Nutrition Center (Voedingscentrum) to evaluate a marketing request by Yakult found sufficient evidence to justify claims that drinking at least one bottle of Yakult per day might help improve bowel movements for people who tend to be constipated and might help maintain a healthy population of gut flora.{{cite web |date=10 November 2006 |title=Assessment Report: Yakult |url=https://www.vmt.nl/Onderwerpoverzicht/Toezicht/~/media/9AD5B0679AB150B65EC80129624475DC.ashx |publisher=Netherlands Nutrition Centre |access-date=7 September 2018 |archive-date=8 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908092823/https://www.vmt.nl/Onderwerpoverzicht/Toezicht/~/media/9AD5B0679AB150B65EC80129624475DC.ashx |url-status=dead }}

In 2010, a European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) panel denied a request by the company to market Yakult as defending the upper respiratory tract against pathogens (in other words, protection against diseases like the common cold), finding the claim not supported by the evidence.{{cite journal |last1=EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies |date=October 2010 |title=Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota and maintenance of the upper respiratory tract defence against pathogens by maintaining immune defences pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) N |journal=EFSA Journal |volume=8 |issue=10 |pages=1860 |doi=10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1860 |doi-access=}} {{open access}} Lay summary: {{cite news |last1=Wallop |first1=Harry |date=20 October 2010 |title=Probiotic drinks do not aid health, Europe says |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/8074182/Probiotic-drinks-do-not-aid-health-Europe-says.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/8074182/Probiotic-drinks-do-not-aid-health-Europe-says.html |archive-date=12 January 2022}}{{cbignore}}

In 2013, the UK Advertising Standards Authority disallowed an advertisement for Yakult in response to a complaint. It found that while there was sufficient evidence for the claim that "significant numbers of viable [Lactobacillus] survived transit to the gut [after consumption of Yakult]", the advertisement had made claims of general health benefits without providing a specific, referenced claim, as required.{{cite web |title=ASA Adjudication on Yakult UK Ltd |url=https://www.asa.org.uk/rulings/yakult-uk-ltd-a13-220644.html |website=Advertising Standards Authority |access-date=8 September 2018 |date=15 May 2013 |archive-date=8 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908202701/https://www.asa.org.uk/rulings/yakult-uk-ltd-a13-220644.html |url-status=live }}

File:Yakurt Tricycle with Seller Woman in Taipei 20121003.jpg

File:Yakult packs.jpg

Yakult was invented in 1935 in Japan by Minoru Shirota, who helped found the company Yakult Honsha for the purpose of commercializing it.{{cite book|editor-last1=Malago|editor-first1=Joshua J.|editor-last2=Koninkx|editor-first2=Jos. F. J. G.|editor-last3=Marinsek-Logar|editor-first3=R.|title=Probiotic Bacteria and Enteric Infections Cytoprotection by Probiotic Bacteria|year=2011|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|location=Dordrecht|isbn=978-9-4007-0386-5|page=6|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nv8xBMWOe4EC&pg=PA6|chapter=Chapter 1: Probiotics: From the Ancient Wisdom to the Actual Therapeutical and Neutraceutical Perspective|last1=Caramia|first1=Giuseppe|last2=Silvi|first2=Stefania|access-date=8 September 2018|archive-date=17 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317110450/https://books.google.com/books?id=Nv8xBMWOe4EC&pg=PA6|url-status=live}} Although Yakult is sold in Japan in supermarkets and convenience stores, it is also sold door-to-door in Japan, Asia, and Latin America in convenience stores.{{cite web |url=https://prosperopedia.com/yakult-probiotic-drink-bottled-gut-health-magic/ |title=Yakult Probiotic Drink: Bottled Gut Health Magic|website=Prosperopedia.com|date=8 March 2021 }}

In 1930, scientist Minoru Shirota strengthened and cultured the Lactobacillus casei Shirota strain.{{Cite web |last=Ryall |first=Julian |date=11 November 2018 |title=The Yakult story: Japanese health drink that conquered world with beneficial bacteria and beaming ladies |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/regional/2018/11/11/the-yakult-story-japanese-health-drink-that-conquered-world-with-beneficial-bacteria-and-beaming-lad/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113174616/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/regional/2018/11/11/the-yakult-story-japanese-health-drink-that-conquered-world-with-beneficial-bacteria-and-beaming-lad/ |archive-date=13 November 2019 |access-date=13 November 2019 |newspaper=The Star}} Five years later, in 1935, Yakult began production in Japan. The company continued to expand, and in 1955, Yakult Honsha was established.

In 1963, Yakult introduced a home delivery service, employing "Yakult ladies" to distribute the product directly to consumers. The following year, Yakult expanded internationally, beginning sales in Taiwan. In 1968, the company opened its first factory outside Japan in São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil.{{cite web |title=Origem - Yakult Brasil |url=https://www.yakult.com.br/empresa/origem/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020043317/http://www.yakult.com.br/empresa/origem/ |archive-date=20 October 2019 |access-date=6 May 2022}} This international growth continued in 1969 with the establishment of the Hong Kong Yakult Co Ltd{{Cite web |title=Hong Kong Yakult Co Ltd |url=https://www.facebook.com/pg/yakulthk/about |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317110501/https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fyakulthk%2Fabout%2F |archive-date=17 March 2023 |access-date=15 December 2019 |website=Facebook}} and the founding of Korea Yakult in South Korea.{{cite web |date=30 September 2018 |title=야쿠르트 - 윤덕병 |url=https://www.ynamnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=19336 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210080106/https://www.ynamnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=19336 |archive-date=10 December 2021 |access-date=10 December 2021}}

By 1981, Yakult had entered the Mexican market, opening a factory in the city of Ixtapaluca under the direction of Carlos Kasuga.{{cite news |last=Bretón |first=Ángeles |date=21 May 2022 |title=Yakult: cuatro décadas de arraigo en Puebla |url=https://www.eluniversalpuebla.com.mx/estado/yakult-cuatro-decadas-de-arraigo-en-puebla |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117183208/https://www.eluniversalpuebla.com.mx/estado/yakult-cuatro-decadas-de-arraigo-en-puebla |archive-date=17 January 2023 |access-date=17 January 2023 |work=El Universal Puebla |language=es}} Further expansion took place in 1994, with the product becoming available in Australia, Great Britain, and the United States.

In 2004, Yakult launched sales in New Zealand through its Australian operations. That same year, Yakult LIGHT was introduced in Australia, offering a lower-sugar alternative. In 2017, the company reformulated Yakult LIGHT to further reduce sugar and energy content, replacing sugar with Stevia.{{cite web |title=FAQ |url=https://www.yakult.com.au/faqs/}}

In 2014, the company opened its first manufacturing facility in the United States, located in Fountain Valley, California.{{cite news |last1=Conley |first1=Paul |date=20 May 2014 |title=Yakult opens probiotic drink factory in California |url=https://www.fooddive.com/news/yakult-opens-probiotic-drink-factory-in-california/264784/ |access-date=12 October 2023 |website=Food Dive}}

In February 2018, it was reported that Danone planned to sell US$1.9 billion of its Yakult investment, reducing its stake from 21% to 7%.{{cite news |last1=Kar-Gupta |first1=Sudip |last2=Vidalon |first2=Dominique |title=Danone to sell $1.9 billion Yakult stake in quest to boost shareholder returns |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-danone-yakult/danone-to-sell-1-9-billion-yakult-stake-in-quest-to-boost-shareholder-returns-idUKKCN1FY0OR |access-date=8 September 2018 |work=Reuters |date=14 February 2018 |archive-date=8 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908202603/https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-danone-yakult/danone-to-sell-1-9-billion-yakult-stake-in-quest-to-boost-shareholder-returns-idUKKCN1FY0OR |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |title=Danone to Sell Stake in Japan's Yakult for $1.9 Billion |url=http://fortune.com/2018/02/14/danone-sells-stake-yakult/ |access-date=8 September 2018 |work=Bloomberg |date=14 February 2018 |archive-date=9 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909000159/http://fortune.com/2018/02/14/danone-sells-stake-yakult/ |url-status=live }} The plan was followed by a decline in Yakult's share value.{{cite news |last1=Gretler |first1=Corinne |title=Yakult Declines After Danone's $1.9 Billion Share Sale Plan |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-14/danone-to-sell-stake-in-japan-s-yakult-for-about-1-8-billion |access-date=8 September 2018 |work=Bloomberg |date=14 February 2018 |archive-date=5 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905220419/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-14/danone-to-sell-stake-in-japan-s-yakult-for-about-1-8-billion |url-status=live }} Danone had first bought shares in Yakult in April 2000. The sale was completed in March 2018.{{cite news |title=Danone completes 1.3bn euro sale of its 14% stake in Yakult |url=https://www.foodbev.com/news/danone-completes-1-3bn-euro-sale-of-its-14-stake-in-yakult/ |access-date=8 September 2018 |work=FoodBev Media |date=28 March 2018 |archive-date=8 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908202544/https://www.foodbev.com/news/danone-completes-1-3bn-euro-sale-of-its-14-stake-in-yakult/ |url-status=live }}

In September 2018, it was reported that the appearance of unlabelled Yakult bottles in the 2018 film To All the Boys I've Loved Before led to a rise in the drink's sales that coincided with a 2.8% increase in share price following the film's release on 17 August.{{cite news |last1=Petter |first1=Olivia |date=4 September 2018 |title=Yakult shares increase following release of Netflix's 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/yakult-to-all-the-boys-ive-loved-before-netflix-sales-increase-rom-com-a8521886.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=8 September 2018 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/yakult-to-all-the-boys-ive-loved-before-netflix-sales-increase-rom-com-a8521886.html |archive-date=7 May 2022}}{{cbignore}}{{cite news |last1=Balji |first1=Divya |title=Netflix Teen Comedy Helps Yakult Yogurt Drink Fly Off Shelves |url=https://www.bloombergquint.com/pursuits/2018/09/03/netflix-teen-comedy-seen-boosting-sales-for-this-japanese-stock#gs.9OnJXz0 |access-date=8 September 2018 |work=BloombergQuint |date=3 September 2018 |archive-date=8 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908202540/https://www.bloombergquint.com/pursuits/2018/09/03/netflix-teen-comedy-seen-boosting-sales-for-this-japanese-stock#gs.9OnJXz0 |url-status=live }}

In January 2020, professional sumo wrestler Takakeishō Takanobu appeared in a television commercial advertising Yakult 1000.{{cite web|title=貴景勝「熱いお風呂ダメ」ダチョウ倶楽部の勧誘断る - 大相撲 : 日刊スポーツ|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/201912190000512.html|date=19 December 2019|publisher=Nikkan Sports|accessdate=11 November 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.yakult.co.jp/news/file.php?type=release&id=157904826913.pdf|title=貴景勝 関がテレビＣＭ初出演！！「Ｙａｋｕｌｔ（ヤクルト）１０００」の新ＣＭがスタート！！|date=17 January 2020|publisher=Yakult Honsha|accessdate=11 November 2023|lang=ja}}

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