Reduction of Process Contaminants in Oils and Fats

Material Issue

Food Safety and Health

Governance

The Fuji Oil Group has established the Sustainability Committee*1 as an advisory body to the Board of Directors that is chaired by the President and CEO. The committee has identified Reduction of Process Contaminants in Oils and Fats as a priority action to address material ESG issues,*2 deliberating on and monitoring from a multi-stakeholder perspective and making recommendations to the Board. The Group implements related initiatives under the oversight of the Head of Oils and Fats Business Headquarters, the Senior Executive Officer.

Strategy

Process contaminants are substances that are incidentally formed during food manufacturing that have the potential to adversely affect human health. As the extent of their impact on human health is currently unclear, they are being studied by risk management agencies worldwide. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce their concentrations in food as much as reasonably achievable.
Our Group has been working for some time to reduce various process contaminants according to our clients demands across our Group companies. For instance, we have developed and implemented a method that reduces process contaminants in our manufacturing process with minimal impact on the quality of oils and fats, such as flavor and texture. We plan to further accelerate our efforts to meet rising market expectations in the coming years.

Risk management

We regularly collect information from all Group companies on the latest laws and regulations, industry trends, and client demands related to the reduction of process contaminants, and have developed a system that can respond to market needs well in advance.
We also select suppliers who can supply raw materials with low risks of process contaminants and work collaboratively with them to build a sustainable supply chain.
The Fuji Oil Group systematically manages risks and opportunities related to Food Safety and Health, an area of sustainability matters that address material ESG issues, in alignment with Group significant risks.

Metrics and targets

：At least 90% complete ：At least 60% complete ：Less than 60% complete

FY2024 Goals FY2024 Results Self-assessment
At seven Group companies, we aim to achieve a 100% supply rate of products that meet our clients’ standards for maximum levels of the process contaminants 3-MCPDEs*1/GEs*2

  • *1 3-MCPDEs: 3-MCPD fatty acid esters. Mainly formed by the reaction of neutral lipids with chlorine under high temperature conditions (> 160-200°C)

  • *2 GEs: Glycidyl fatty acid esters. Mainly formed from neutral lipids under high temperature conditions (> 200°C)

 100%

Analysis

In FY2024, with the establishment of a Group-wide system to facilitate the reduction of process contaminants, we successfully supplied products that meet client standards for maximum levels of 3-MCPDEs and GEs.

  • Specific initiatives related to reducing process contaminants:
  • Regularly collect information from all Group companies on the latest laws and regulations, industry trends, and client requirements related to process contaminants, and develop a system that can proactively respond to market needs
  • Conduct research and development on new methods for reducing 3-MCPDEs/GEs, and apply insights and results to our manufacturing process
  • Select suppliers capable of supplying raw materials with low risks of process contaminants, and work collaboratively with them to build a sustainable supply chain

Next steps

It is essential to reduce process contaminants while preserving the natural flavor and functionality of oil and fat products.
Over the years, we have developed reduction methods with minimal impact on the quality of oils and fats, such as flavor and texture, and implemented them across our Group companies.
Looking ahead, the Group will continue working together to reduce process contaminants, drawing on our long-standing expertise and experience while incorporating new knowledge gained through ongoing research and development.

Specific initiatives

Reducing process contaminants

We have been working on initiatives to reduce process contaminants at various stages across the supply chain.
To reduce process contaminants in the raw materials we use, we have selected suppliers who pose lower risks of process contamination and have begun collaborating with them. By managing the supply chain from upstream, we reduce the risk of process contamination.
Furthermore, to reduce the formation of process contaminants and limit their introduction during the manufacturing process, we have developed and implemented a method at our manufacturing sites that reduces process contaminants with minimal impact on the quality of oils and fats, such as flavor and color. Through such efforts of leveraging our Group’s patented methods, we work to meet the level of quality expected by the market and our customers. We will continue to enhance and implement these initiatives in the coming years.