Japan considers mandatory allergy labeling for cashew nuts amid rising health concerns 

JAPAN – Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency is evaluating the addition of cashew nuts to its list of ingredients requiring mandatory labeling for allergy risks on food packaging. 

The move follows a significant rise in allergic reactions to cashews, spurring heightened concerns over consumer health and safety.  

Cashews, currently ranked in the lower-risk category of Japan’s allergy labeling system, do not require obligatory labeling; however, the agency is reconsidering this status in light of recent data. 

In 2022, cashew nuts accounted for 4.6 percent of reported allergy cases, or 279 out of 6,033 cases, making them the seventh-most common allergenic food.  

This marks a substantial rise from 2012, when cashews accounted for only 0.6 percent of allergy cases and ranked 14th among allergenic ingredients.  

Moreover, cashews were responsible for 37 cases of severe anaphylactic shock last year, placing them fifth among ingredients that triggered the condition.  

The prevalence of severe symptoms has compelled the Consumer Affairs Agency to consider upgrading cashews to the high-risk category, thereby making allergy labeling mandatory on all cashew-containing products. 

Japan’s allergy labeling system is structured to alert consumers to potential allergens, divided into higher-risk and lower-risk categories. Currently, eight ingredients—such as eggs, milk, and, most recently, walnuts—require mandatory labeling.  

In March 2023, walnuts were added to this list, joining peanuts, which are also in the higher-risk category. Cashews, macadamia nuts, and almonds remain in the lower-risk group, with voluntary labeling recommended but not required. 

The agency’s most recent survey, conducted every three years, gathers physician reports on food allergy cases that necessitate medical intervention within an hour of consumption.  

As health consciousness grows, increasing nut consumption may be linked to the rising number of allergy cases, the agency suggests. Former Digital Minister Taro Kono highlighted the urgency of addressing cashew-related risks, calling for cashews to be included in the mandatory labeling list.

Mirarth GreenTech invests in Cambodia

This comes as Japanese firm Mirarth GreenTech plans to build two large factories in Cambodia.   

The first factory will have an annual processing capacity of 20,000 tonnes of cashew nuts, while the second facility will specialize in extracting oil from cashew nut shells. 

According to Uon Silot, President of the Cashew Nut Association of Cambodia (CAC), the project could significantly benefit Cambodia’s cashew industry by diversifying product output and reducing production costs. 

Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency plans to convene an expert panel by March to finalize its stance on mandatory cashew nut labeling, a potential shift that reflects the nation’s commitment to consumer health and safety. 

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