history of soy yogurt, soy acidophilus milk and other ... - SoyInfo Center

list of foods said to be disliked, ahead of liver (34%), yogurt
(29%), Brussels sprouts (28%), and prunes (24%). Results
do not vary signifi cantly by age, but tofu dislike is somewhat
less among those with higher incomes. The poll results
are very widely publicized, and are even the subject of a
question on the TV program Jeopardy (in early 1988)–and its
rerun! These fi ndings suggest both a widespread awareness
of tofu and a split image: Some like it and others don’t.
Aug. Kikkoman’s new shoyu plant starts operation in
Chitose, Hokkaido, in northern Japan. The fi rst product was
shipped on 30 Jan. 1987.
Sept. 9. American Soy Products Inc. plant dedicated in
Clinton, Michigan. A $10 million joint venture between Eden
Foods and four Japanese companies (Kawasho, Marusan,
Muso, Seikensha), construction on the plant began in Oct.
1985. It will make Edensoy soymilk in Tetra Brik cartons.
The fi rst products are shipped in November.
Sept. 19. Tofu standards passed by Tofu Standards
Committee in San Francisco, after all committee members
except Shurtleff agree to start with a blank slate in drafting
new standards–thus erasing years of work by hundreds
of people. Shurtleff resigns in protest, arguing that this is
a violation due process. Shortly thereafter Barricini and
Ralston Purina also refuse to give fi nal approval. Tofu
standards are stalled indefi nitely after many years of hard
work.
Sept. 24. First International Tofu Products Expo,
Seminar, and Soyfoods Buffet, held in Munich, West
Germany. Sponsored by Bernd Lehmann International
Consultants. 100 people attend.
Oct. Supersoy brand soymilk introduced to America
by Mitoku USA. It is made by Kibun Health Foods Co. in
Japan.
Oct. Ralston Purina sells its domestic agricultural
products business, Purina Mills. Total sales for 1986 were
$5.5 billion.
Nov. Island Spring announces $6.5 million investment
from Edward Lynch Co. to fi nance an expansion plan.
Construction of a new 30,000 square foot factory is now
underway on Vashon Island.
Dec. 1. White Wave of Boulder, Colorado, acquires
Soyfoods Unlimited, a tempeh manufacturer of San Leandro,
California. This makes White Wave America’s largest
tempeh manufacturer.
Dec. 8. Central Soya purchases 7 of 9 Bunge processing
plants. ADM is now estimated to control 30% of U.S.
crushing capacity followed by Cargill (25%), Central Soya
(20%), and other (25%).
Dec. Tomsun Foods International nets about $3.45
million in its fi rst public stock offering. Most of the funds
will be used for sales and marketing of Jofu, and to repay
$800,000 in debts. Total Tomsun sales in 1986 were about
$3.1 million.
Dec. Haagen-Dazs will drop Tofutti and start
HISTORY OF SOY YOGURT & CULTURED SOYMILK 250
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distributing Barricini Tofulite, a non-dairy frozen dessert.
Dec. Brightsong Foods is named as one of the top ten
food innovators for 1986 by Food & Beverage Marketing
magazine. In fact, Brightsong is listed fi rst!
Dec. Tofruzen Inc., a soy ice cream marketer from
Englewood, Colorado, raises $1.6 million in a public stock
offering. Sales of Tofruzen in fi scal 1986 were $91,000,
rising to $158,000 in 1987, and $213,000 in the fi rst quarter
of 1988.
Dec. Edible Soy Products in Hudson Iowa is sold to
Solnuts of Tilburg, The Netherlands, and renamed Solnuts,
Inc. The Hudson and Tilburg plants are the only ones in the
world that dry roast soybeans to make soynuts.
Dec. More than 60,000 Italian farmers harvested
nearly 25,000 hectares (61,700 acres) of soybeans this year.
Italy is now Europe’s largest soybean producing country,
followed by France. Five years ago, Italy produced virtually
no soybeans. The Ferruzzi Group is the leading promoter,
helped by hefty subsidies from the EEC.
1986 New Trends:
So Called Tofu Cheeses. Eight new soy cheeses were
launched during 1986, many with the term “Tofu” in the
product name. Many have been shrouded in mystery,
with the names of the manufacturer and ingredients often
not disclosed. There has been much consumer deception,
mislabeling, and several attempts to conceal the fact that they
usually contain casein, the protein in cow’s milk.
Soy Yogurts and Yogurt-Style Products. The leader in
this exciting new category is Jofu from Tomsun Foods. The
two basic types are fermented soymilk products (e.g. Cream
of the Bean, Soy-O), and non-fermented tofu-fruit blends
(e.g. Jofu).
Move to Manufacturing Soymilk in America. The
rising cost of soymilk imports is making them unprofi table.
Domestic production, which obviates shipping U.S. soybeans
to Japan, then shipping the beans and water back, will have
major, benefi cial long-term Edensoy, Ah Soy, and Westbrae
Malteds. Still imported are Vitasoy (from Hong Kong,
whose exchange rate is tied to the dollar) and Sunsoy (from
Belgium).
The declining value of the dollar against the yen starting
in late 1985 led to a steady rise in soymilk prices. But the
combination of domestic production and larger size packages
(see below) has led to a drop in soymilk prices during 1986.
For example, Edensoy, selling for 6 times the price of dairy
milk per unit volume in early 1984, was selling for only 3.5
to 4.1 times as much in late 1986, a drop of about 37%.
Soymilk Switches to Tetra Brik Cartons and Liters or
Quarts. Edensoy, Westsoy, and Ah Soy have all switched
to Tetra Brik cartons this year. Lower total manufacturing
and shipping cost is the main reason. The liter/quart size
was pioneered in the U.S. by Alpro/Vamo Foods/Sunsoy,
and followed by Edensoy, Ah Soy, and Vitasoy. These
counterparts of dairy milk in quarts suit the needs of regular