Yakult facts for kids
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A single serving of Yakult
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| Type | Drink |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Yakult Honsha |
| Distributor | Yakult Honsha |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Introduced | 1935 |
| Colour | Light peach |
| Ingredients | Ingredients |
Yakult (ヤクルト, Yakuruto) is a sweet, milky drink from Japan. It's a special kind of drink called a probiotic beverage. This means it contains good bacteria that can help your tummy stay healthy. Yakult is made by fermenting milk with a specific type of bacteria called Lacticaseibacillus casei Shirota.
The company that makes Yakult is called Yakult Honsha, and it's based in Tokyo. You can find Yakult in small bottles, usually 65 mL or 100 mL, sold in packs of five or ten at stores. The name "Yakult" comes from the Esperanto word jahurto, which means "yogurt".
Contents
What's in Yakult?
Yakult is made from a few simple ingredients. These include water, skimmed milk (milk with the fat removed), and different types of sugar like glucose-fructose syrup and sucrose. It also has natural flavors, often a hint of citrus. Most importantly, it contains the live Lacticaseibacillus casei Shirota bacteria. This is the special ingredient that makes Yakult a probiotic drink.
How is Yakult Made?
Making Yakult involves a careful process. First, glucose is added to skimmed milk. This mixture is then heated to a very high temperature (around 90 to 95 degrees Celsius) for about 30 minutes. This step helps to make sure the mixture is clean and ready.
After heating, the mixture cools down to about 45 degrees Celsius. Then, the special Lactobacillus bacteria are added. This is called "inoculating" the mixture. The mixture is then left to ferment for 6 to 7 days at a warm temperature (37 to 38 degrees Celsius). During this time, the bacteria grow and multiply, turning the milk into the probiotic drink. After fermentation, water, more sugar, and other ingredients like natural gums and lactic acid are added to complete the drink.
Health Benefits of Yakult
Many people drink Yakult because they believe it helps their health. In 2006, experts in the Netherlands looked at information about Yakult. They found that drinking at least one bottle of Yakult every day might help people who have trouble with their bowel movements (going to the bathroom). It could also help keep the good bacteria in your gut healthy. These good bacteria are called "gut flora" and they are important for digestion.
However, not all health claims have been fully supported. For example, in 2010, a group in Europe looked at a claim that Yakult could help protect against common illnesses like the common cold. They found that there wasn't enough proof to support this claim. Also, in 2013, a UK advertising group said that a Yakult advertisement made general health claims without enough specific details.
The Story of Yakult
Yakult was created in 1935 by a scientist named Minoru Shirota in Japan. He also helped start the company Yakult Honsha to sell his new drink. While Yakult is sold in stores in Japan, it's also famous for being delivered right to people's homes in many parts of Asia and Latin America. This is often done by special employees known as 'Yakult ladies'.
Important Dates in Yakult's History
- 1930: Scientist Minoru Shirota worked to make the Lactobacillus casei Shirota bacteria stronger and grow it in large amounts.
- 1935: Yakult started being made and sold in Japan.
- 1955: The company Yakult Honsha was officially started.
- 1963: Yakult began its home delivery service, using the 'Yakult lady' system.
- 1964: Yakult started selling its drinks in other countries, beginning with Taiwan.
- 1968: The first Yakult factory outside Japan opened in Brazil.
- 1969: Yakult companies were started in Hong Kong and South Korea.
- 1981: Yakult began selling in Mexico.
- 1994: Yakult became available in Australia, Great Britain, and the United States.
- 2004: Yakult started being sold in New Zealand. This year also saw the introduction of Yakult LIGHT in Australia, a version with less sugar.
- 2014: Yakult opened its first factory in the United States.
Yakult in Movies and TV
Yakult has even appeared in popular culture!
- In September 2018, it was noticed that Yakult bottles appeared in the movie To All the Boys I've Loved Before. After the movie came out, sales of Yakult went up, and the company's share price increased.
- In January 2020, a famous sumo wrestler named Takakeishō Takanobu appeared in a TV commercial for Yakult 1000, another version of the drink.
See also
In Spanish: Yakult para niños
- Actimel
- Bikkle
- Calpis
- Fermented milk products
- List of fermented foods
- Tokyo Yakult Swallows
