Due to Global Supply Chain Instability, Sanatech Seed Changes Packaging of 'High-GABA® Tomato 150g' to Paper Sleeve – Rollout Begins Early June

Previously, the packaging featured direct printing on plastic film. The company has now transitioned to a new design using a paper sleeve over a plain plastic film, with the rollout beginning in early June across retail outlets. This change will not affect the product's quality or safety in any way. Sanatech Seed remains committed to adapting flexibly to environmental changes and ensuring stable delivery of High-GABA® Tomatoes to customers who rely on them for health and wellness.

Old packaging: Printed area on plastic

New packaging: Printed area on paper

■ About High-GABA® Tomato: Functional Food with Notification No. H617

The 'High-GABA® Tomato' has been developed using genome editing technology, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (※1). It is the world’s first commercially sold functional food derived from advanced genome-edited produce (※2). In Japan, it is also the first fresh produce to receive approval for simultaneously claiming four functional benefits. Its key feature is its exceptionally high GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) content—approximately 12 times more (※3) than that of conventional mini tomatoes. Various health benefits of GABA have been reported, with the following effects expected based on intake levels:

12.3mg intake: Helps lower blood pressure in individuals with elevated levels

28mg intake: Alleviates temporary mental stress caused by work or study

100mg intake: Improves sleep quality (deeper sleep, refreshed awakening) and supports skin elasticity and overall skin health

※1 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Awarded to Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, and Professor Jennifer Doudna of UC Berkeley, for the development of CRISPR-Cas9

※2 First commercial release of genome-edited fresh produce

※3 Average value from 19 commercially available mini tomatoes, December 2025 (internal research)

■ How is Genome Editing Different from Genetic Modification?

Genetic modification involves inserting genes from other organisms, enabling the creation of traits not possible through natural breeding, thus allowing for breakthrough crop improvements.

In contrast, genome editing involves precisely cutting targeted genes and utilizing the natural repair process to induce beneficial mutations. This method stays within the bounds of naturally occurring mutations—such as those caused by UV radiation—and enables crop improvements that could theoretically occur in nature.

■ Company Overview

Company Name: Sanatech Seed Co., Ltd.

Established: December 1999

Address: Toranomon Hills Mori Tower 3-7-10 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Corporate Website: https://sanatech-seed.co.jp/

Aozora Tomato Academy Brand Site: https://aozora.sanatech-seed.co.jp/

Aozora Tomato Academy Inquiry Desk: 050-3033-9465 (10:00–16:00, excluding weekends and holidays)