Food Safety

Basic Approach

At the Maruha Nichiro Group, we work to supply safe, quality food to customers and pursue food that customers can feel safe eating by putting ourselves in the customer's shoes and considering the type of quality they are looking for. This approach comes from our Quality Assurance System based on the Maruha Nichiro Group Philosophy and the Maruha Nichiro Group Quality Assurance Policy.

To that end, we take an array of measures, from product development to delivery to the customers, as well as in all the processes thereafter. At the same time, we provide employees with quality assurance training to raise the level of their knowledge and skills and heighten awareness about quality.

Medium-term Sustainability Management Plan (FY2018-2021)

Supply Safe and Secure Foods

Targets: Maruha Nichiro Group (Domestic) Quality

Department in charge: Quality Assurance Department, Maruha Nichiro Corporation

Target	FY2021		Medium-term Management Plan Self-Assessment
	Action Plan (Key measures)	Achievements
Quality management system: Spread as appropriate operations of Maruha Nichiro Group quality assurance regulations	Provide explanations (notices, e-learning program, etc.) related to design and development Conduct awareness-raising activities to ensure the effective use of both internal and external training for quality education and training	Produced e-learning program content related to design and development Publicized information quality-related training both inside and outside the Company through the utilization of an Intranet Revised Maruha Nichiro Group quality assurance regulations to international standards for quality control systems	★★★☆☆ Implemented PDCA activities about quality assurance and quality control as a whole group Continued to hold meetings on quality assurance for management of domestic contracted factories Conducted various training sessions on food safety management system, food defense, etc. Conducted inspections of compliance and provided improvement guidance based on food defense management standards The prevention and elimination of quality-related accidents was an ongoing issue

Targets: Maruha Nichiro Group (Domestic and overseas) and contracted plants

Department in charge: Quality Assurance Department, Maruha Nichiro Corporation

Target	FY2021		Medium-term Management Plan Self-Assessment
	Action Plan (Key measures)	Achievements
Promote the acquisition of certification and an effective operation of food safety management systems in accordance with global standards	Consider the possibility of organizing a managers' meeting on quality assurance at subcontract plants using a web conference system, etc. Conduct (including remotely) systematic plant audits based on factory sanitation management standards Consider and implement measures to raise the participation rate in the quality e-learning program	Held remote managers' meeting on quality assurance at contracted plants Conducted plant auditing combining on-site and remote inspections Systematically implemented quality e-learning programs to avoid uneven timing of implementation	★★★☆☆ Implemented PDCA activities about quality assurance and quality control as a whole group Continued to hold meetings on quality assurance for management of domestic contracted factories Conducted various training sessions on food safety management system, food defense, etc. Conducted inspections of compliance and provided improvement guidance based on food defense management standards The prevention and elimination of quality-related accidents was an ongoing issue
Maintain good plant environments and improve defense levels based on the Maruha Nichiro Group's Food Defense Management Rules	Carry out (including remotely) inspections of compliance with food defense management standards and provide guidance on improvements to the Group's production sites, logistics sites, and contracted plants Continue training sessions on Group food defense management standards	Carried out inspections of compliance and guidance on improvements at the Group's production sites, logistics sites, and contracted plants based on a plan using a remote system. Carried out food defense training sessions in the form of e-learning and handouts

Management Structure

The Maruha Nichiro Group has established a system in which the Managing Executive Officers' Committee is the highest decision-making body for quality assurance. It is also in charge of setting and implementing necessary quality assurance policies and initiatives.
In addition, the Quality Assurance Committee has been established as an advising body to the Managing Executive Officers' Committee to deliberate on advisory matters.

The Quality Assurance Department at Maruha Nichiro, the central company of the Group, serves as the focal point of the Group's quality assurance by formulating various policies, monitoring and supporting improvements in management status through quality audits and product information maintenance, collecting and disclosing information on quality and labeling, and initiating employee training programs to increase quality awareness.

Responsible persons and persons in charge of quality assurance are appointed for each Company department and Group company to communicate information about Group policies and measures as well as to create and implement quality assurance plans and measures.

Quality Assurance Structure

Main Activities in FY2021

Education and Training on Quality for Employees

In FY2021, because of the spread of COVID-19, it was difficult to conduct group seminars. However, we continued our efforts to ensure the competence of our employees by further promoting remote training while maintaining quality through the use of e-learning programs and video conference systems for training.

As a result of these efforts, it became easier for trainees to adjust their schedules, enabling a cumulative total of 4,000 employees, approximately twice as many as in previous years, to attend the training.

We will continue to enhance the content going forward and maintain and improve the level of employee education and training.

Results of FY2021 Quality Assurance Training

Type of training	Total sessions	Participants
Food label training (learning about universal guidelines, frozen food, shelf-stable food, seafood products, livestock products and practicing food label)	14 times	338 people
Quality management workshops (factory hygiene management)	3 times	536 people
Food defense workshops	5 times	743 people
FSSC 22000 internal auditor training (introductory training, skill advancement training)	4 times	98 people
FSSC/ISO22000 standards study session	2 times	243 people
Food bacteria training	2 times	448 people
Skills training for food bacteria inspectors	1 time	34 people
Practical inspection skills training for food bacteria inspectors	1 time	6 people
Customer service training	4 times	116 people
Customer feedback monitoring training	1 time	1593 people
Customer service training	2 times	76 people

Education and Training on Quality and Research

Enhance Factory Inspections

In FY2020 and again in FY2021, the COVID-19 pandemic greatly restricted people's movements. As a result, we switched to remote audits using a communications app to conduct plant inspections normally performed in person at our manufacturing sites. This allowed us to maintain and improve our food safety and food defense by responding flexibly to the situation of the pandemic.

We will continue to enhance our plant inspection and guidance systems so that we can adapt flexibly to changes in the environment.

Preventing quality-related incidents

The Maruha Nichiro Group implements various kinds of activities to ensure the safety and security of our products. However, in the unlikely event that a product sold to a customer is found to have a serious defect or flaw, we will promptly make a public announcement and conduct a recall of the product in question.

In FY2021, four cases of serious quality-related incidents^* occurred in the Maruha Nichiro Group. A recall of the product in question was promptly implemented, and deep investigations into the cause of the problem are underway to address the issue.
We also strive to prevent recurrence by sharing the causes and countermeasures with all stakeholders within the Group.

^* Serious quality-related incidents are defined as product recalls announced in newspapers or on the Company's website due to violations of relevant regulations and voluntary codes as specified in GRI Standards 416-2 and 417-2.

KGIs and KPIs from FY2022 to FY2030

In line with formulating the new Medium-term Management Strategy "For the Ocean, for Life MNV 2024,” we reevaluated the new nine key issues (materiality) on March 28, 2022 and formulated Ideal State in 2030 (KGI) for each materiality and Achievement Targets (KPI). Starting in FY2022, we will work on the targets we have formulated, aiming to achieve our Ideal State in 2030.