What a label must tell you

Japan has two allergen lists: 9 that labels must name, and 20 more that makers are only encouraged to name. It's a system for allergies, not a vegan list.

• The 9 required: 卵 egg, 乳 milk, 小麦 wheat, そば buckwheat, 落花生 peanut, えび shrimp, かに crab, くるみ walnut, カシューナッツ cashew (since April 2026).
• The 20 “recommended” include 牛肉 beef, 豚肉 pork, 鶏肉 chicken, さけ salmon, さば mackerel and ゼラチン gelatine: they may be left out.
• Many packs show a chart of all 29 (特定原材料等29品目). Older packs may say 28 or 27: the lists change over the years.
• No allergen listed still doesn't mean vegan. Read the whole ingredient list.

On the label