March 9, 2004

Japan Food Companies Resume Processed Chicken Production

Major Japanese food companies have resumed production of processed chicken following the government¡¯s lifting of an import ban of processed chicken from Thailan.

Ajinomoto Frozen Foods Co. has resumed production of processed-chicken items at its two units in Thailand. Nichirei Corp. has resumed production on a trial basis at a partner's factory in that nation. Meanwhile, Nippon Meat Packers Inc. plans on rolling out products there again sometime this week, the Nikkei reported.

Products made in Thailand account for about 30% of all imported processed-chicken items in Japan.

With the current shortage of chicken meat, output is not expected to return to pre-suspension levels for some time. Some have already begun switching to substitute meats such as pork, and there remain fears that more and more consumers will avoid chicken because of its worsening image.

At present, there are no signs that the ban on processed-chicken imports from China will be lifted.