Approximately 95% of Registered Dietitians Recommend "Sea Chicken Jun" to Patients as a "Protein Source" - Verified by Survey at the 29th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition

Hagoromo Foods Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, President: Saeko Goto, hereinafter "Hagoromo Foods"), in collaboration with Oishii Kenko Inc. (Headquarters: Tokyo, CEO: Tetsuya Nojiri, hereinafter "Oishii Kenko"), exhibited at the "29th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition" held from January 30 to February 1, 2026.

As a result of a survey conducted among 630 healthcare professionals, primarily registered dietitians, who visited the booth, it was revealed that our "Sea Chicken Jun" is highly valued as a "protein source" in care and medical settings. We are pleased to announce this finding.

Background of Exhibition: "Daily Health Maintenance" in an Aging Society and Challenges in the Field

In today's super-aging society, the importance of protein intake is increasing in care and medical settings for daily health maintenance and building a healthy body as people age.

Tuna (water-packed type) is a food ingredient that contains protein derived from its raw materials, tuna and bonito※. Furthermore, it offers high convenience in medical and care settings, as well as for home care, due to its "no preparation required," "no bones," and "long shelf life" characteristics. In this survey, approximately 63% of registered dietitians cited "insufficient protein" as a dietary challenge for patients, highlighting the growing attention to tuna as an easy source of nutritional supplementation in clinical practice.

Hagoromo Foods has been continuously exhibiting at medical and nutrition-related academic conferences since 2024 to widely inform healthcare professionals about the effectiveness of tuna for protein supplementation and encourage its use in dietary support.

※ Nutritional values for tuna are based on the figures for "Canned Tuna (Flaked, Water-Packed)" from the "Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan 2020 Edition (Eighth Revision)" by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

【Previous Academic Conference Exhibition Results】

May 2024: 67th Annual Meeting of the Japan Diabetes Society

January 2025: 28th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition

July 2025: 12th Annual Meeting of JADEC

Detailed Survey Results from the 29th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition

A survey was conducted among 630 healthcare professionals (including 539 registered dietitians/dietitians) who visited our booth at the "29th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition" (attendance: 2,957) held from January 30 to February 1, 2026.

1 The Biggest Dietary Challenges in Medical Settings are "Insufficient Protein" and "Individualized Meal Management"

Regarding dietary challenges for patients that registered dietitians and dietitians find serious, "insufficient protein (63%)" was the most cited, followed by "effects of salt restriction (52%)" and "insufficient energy (48%)". Our diverse product lineup, including "Sea Chicken Jun" which does not use salt or oil in its seasoning liquid, is attracting attention as a food ingredient that can meet these stringent needs of clinical practice.

2 Approximately 95% of Registered Dietitians Responded "Would Like to Recommend Sea Chicken Jun to Patients"

To the question "Did you feel inclined to recommend incorporating Sea Chicken Jun into the diet?", a total of approximately 95% expressed an intention to recommend it ("Definitely recommend" approx. 70%, "Already recommending" approx. 13%, "Somewhat recommend" approx. 12%). Notably, 0% responded "Would not recommend." The intention to recommend in medical settings has been steadily increasing through our continuous participation in academic conferences since 2024.

3 The Top Reason for Recommendation is "Protein," Followed by "No Cooking Required"

Among the reasons for recommending "Sea Chicken Jun" (multiple responses allowed), "It is a food rich in protein (approx. 77%)" was the top answer. This was followed by "No cooking required and easy to use (approx. 48%)", indicating that the product's characteristics align with the needs of the field.

【Direct Feedback from Registered Dietitians at the Booth】

"Since it doesn't use salt in the seasoning liquid, I can recommend it with peace of mind."

"It's easy to use even in busy settings because no cooking is required (ready to eat after opening)."

"In a situation where securing protein is difficult due to rising food costs, tuna is a valuable option."

Commercial-Size Product Developed Based on Field Feedback

Based on the strong demand for "salt-free, water-packed (oil-free) tuna" (supported by 68.4%) identified in the previous year's (January 2025) academic conference survey, and requests for a "large capacity that is easy to incorporate into hospital meal menus," we launched the commercial-size "Salt- and Oil-Free Sea Chicken Mild Jun" (500g) in August 2025.

Sea Chicken Smile Jun (Household Use)

Capacity: 50g A water-packed type of Sea Chicken without salt or oil. It is expected to be useful for individuals managing their diet. Its convenience, requiring no cooking and offering long shelf life, is also supported.

▼ Per 50g serving: Protein 6.4-12.1g, Carbohydrates 0.0g, Salt equivalent 0.02-0.22g

Salt- and Oil-Free Sea Chicken Mild Jun (Commercial Use / Launched August 2025)

Capacity: 500g A commercial-size water-packed type of Sea Chicken without salt or oil. This large-capacity size is suitable for mass cooking and is designed for ease of use in the kitchens of feeding facilities and hospitals. It is expected to be useful for individuals managing their diet. Its convenience, requiring no cooking, is also supported by busy food service operations.

▼ Per 100g: Protein 20.7g, Salt equivalent 0.00-0.28g

Future Developments

The greatest strength of "Sea Chicken Jun," which uses absolutely no "oil" or "salt" as seasoning liquid, unlike regular tuna, and is made purely from tuna/bonito and water, is its usability in settings requiring individual dietary management without requiring extra effort.

Based on these survey results, Hagoromo Foods and Oishii Kenko will proceed with the following initiatives to further expand the use of "Sea Chicken Smile Jun" and "Salt- and Oil-Free Sea Chicken Mild Jun" in medical and care settings:

1 Dissemination of Recipes and Menu Examples

We will develop and disseminate recipes and menu examples, categorized by nutritional balance and food texture, that leverage the respective characteristics of "Sea Chicken Smile Jun" (50g, individual pouch type) and "Salt- and Oil-Free Sea Chicken Mild Jun" (500g, commercial large-capacity type). Our aim is to provide information that registered dietitians can immediately utilize in their practice, ranging from simple recipes for home dietary management to menus for mass cooking in feeding facilities.

Recipe Example <Tuna and Potato Stew>

Cooking Time: Approx. 20 minutes Per Serving: Calories Approx. 236kcal, Protein Approx. 10g, Salt Equivalent Approx. 1.4g

Ingredients (for 2 servings)

・Sea Chicken Smile Jun (50g) ·············· 1 pouch

・Dried Shiitake Mushrooms (sliced)······················· 8g

・Dried Shiitake Mushroom Soaking Liquid······················· 200ml

・Potatoes······················· 2 medium (300g)

・Onion························· 1/2 medium (100g)

・Carrot······················· 1/2 medium (100g)

・Salad Oil·································· 1 tbsp

・Snap Peas································· 3 pods

・A Sugar······························· 1/2 tbsp

A Soy Sauce······························· 1 tbsp

A Sake····································· 1 tbsp

A Mirin····························· 1/2 tbsp

Instructions

1 Rehydrate the dried shiitake mushrooms until soft. Reserve the soaking liquid.

2 Peel the potatoes and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Slice the onion into wedges and cut the carrot into irregular pieces.

3 Heat 1 tbsp of salad oil in a pot, add and sauté 2, then add the dried shiitake mushroom soaking liquid. Once boiling, skim off any scum, add A, cover, and simmer for 4-5 minutes.

4 Add the Sea Chicken, rehydrated shiitake mushrooms, and snap peas to 3, and continue to simmer until the liquid reduces to about 1/4 of the original volume.

2 Collection and Sharing of Usage Examples

We will collect actual usage examples from medical institutions, care facilities, and food service operations, and widely share them through academic presentations, newsletters, and web media. By feeding back the voices from the field, we aim to improve products and make new proposals.

Survey Overview

・January 2026 Survey (Current)

Survey Name: Questionnaire on Tuna

Target: Visitors to the corporate exhibition booth at the 29th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition

Period: January 30 (Fri) - February 1 (Sun), 2026

Valid Responses: 630 (Registered Dietitians/Dietitians 539 / Nurses 13 / Doctors 14 / Others 64)

Method: WEB and paper questionnaire / In-house survey

・January 2025 Survey (Previous Reference)

Survey Name: Questionnaire on Tuna

Target: Visitors to the corporate exhibition booth at the 28th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition

Period: January 17 (Fri) - 19 (Sun), 2025

Valid Responses: 585 (Registered Dietitians/Dietitians 525 / Nurses 14 / Doctors 9 / Others 37)

Method: WEB and paper questionnaire / In-house survey

About Oishii Kenko Inc.

Oishii Kenko Inc. is a healthcare startup aiming to "eradicate diseases from the world" through Data Science-based Nutrition (DBN). By providing the personalized meal planning and nutrition management app "Oishii Kenko," we contribute to the realization of health and well-being for 8 billion people worldwide, as well as to solving social issues such as reducing medical costs.

※ "Sea Chicken," "Sea Chicken Smile," "Sea Chicken Jun," and "Oil-Free Sea Chicken" are registered trademarks of Hagoromo Foods Co., Ltd.

Contact for Inquiries Regarding This Matter

For Media Representatives: Hagoromo Foods Co., Ltd. Planning Department, Contact: Makita TEL 054-288-5208

Homepage https://www.hagoromofoods.co.jp/