Japanese Firm Launches Plant-Based "Tuna Sashimi"

A major Japanese food processing company has begun selling "tuna sashimi" made from plant-based ingredients to domestic restaurants.

Using powdered konjac, dietary fiber, and other ingredients, the company has reproduced the unique texture of tuna after a year of development.

The aroma and texture of the red meat of tuna are reproduced, and it can be eaten as sashimi, Naomichi Senoo reported for Mainichi Japan.

As the decline of marine resources becomes a global problem, the development of "alternative seafood" using soybeans and other ingredients is growing. Osaka-based NH Foods Ltd. has focused on tuna, which is one of the top domestic purchases among seafood products.

Using powdered konjac, dietary fiber, and other ingredients, the company has reproduced the unique texture of tuna after a year of development that started in the summer of 2023.

Currently, the company offers the product to domestic restaurants, including those in hotels, but will consider selling it through convenience stores and online sites upon request.

A company official said, "We would like to consider expanding the variety of products, focusing on seafood that is in high demand due to low catch."

Against the backdrop of changes in dietary habits due to global population growth and economic growth, there are concerns about shortages in the supply of meat and fish. Food manufacturers are developing "alternative meats" and "alternative seafood" made from plants and other ingredients.

According to research firm Fuji Keizai Co., the size of the global market for related products in 2030 is expected to quadruple from 2022 to 6.5 trillion yen (about $41 billion).