Kirin Beverage ordered to ensure correct labeling

Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency ordered Kirin Beverage to prevent a recurrence of deceptive packaging for its juice product.

Although its Tropicana melon taste juice product was labeled as 100 percent melon by Kirin Holdings, it contained only 2 percent melon juice and the remaining 98 percent was grape, apple, and banana juice.

According to the agency, the company used the disputed package between June 2020 and April this year, which stated "100% melon taste" and "selected muskmelon."

The agency said this amounts to a violation of the law against misleading representations.

Kirin Beverage is currently selling the product after changing its labeling.

“We deeply apologize for the misleading labeling causing misunderstanding among customers,” the company said.