Tokyo Bar's Core Brand 'KAWAÌINE' Obtains 'Non-GMO Project Verification' for Two Products Targeting Global Social Food Issues

Tokyo Bar Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tsukuba, Ibaraki; CEO: Hiroaki Tsutsui, Co-founder: Reiko Tsutsui) aims to deliver long-loved food items while addressing social issues such as mass waste in food processing, greenhouse gas emissions, and food safety.

We are pleased to announce that two products from our flagship brand 'KAWAÌINE'—'SALAD BITES' Kale & Fruits and 'SALAD BITES' Carrot & Fruits—have obtained 'Non-GMO Project Verification,' the most trusted non-GMO certification in North America (USA and Canada). This allows Tokyo Bar to display the iconic butterfly logo on product packaging, providing visual assurance to North American customers that these products are non-GMO.

*These two products are sold in Japan as 'THIS IS SALAD Carrot & Fruit Plate Granola' and 'THIS IS SALAD Kale & Fruit Plate Granola.'

**Background and Purpose**
Tokyo Bar delivers food items that balance nutrition and taste through new ideas and flavors, loved by children and adults alike while addressing social issues. Under the motto 'Delivering the charm of Japanese materials to the world,' our plant-based food development is centered at our 'New Material Processing Development LAB' established in Ibaraki in 2023. Since our founding, we have utilized nutrient-dense parts like leaves and skins that are often discarded in food processing, combined with our unique know-how, to develop natural, delicious, and healthy products that go beyond simple upcycled food to maximize plant-based umami.

The 'Non-GMO Project' is a US-based non-profit organization authorized by the NSF (National Science Foundation). It is the only independent verification agency that recommends foods explicitly labeled as non-GMO and helps consumers avoid GMO products. The verification is issued after a complex and rigorous audit. For the target products, the entire process is audited, including not only the raw materials but also the manufacturing process, packaging materials, and internal management methods to ensure GMO contamination risks are managed.

In the North American market, consumer interest in non-GMO products is extremely high, which led Tokyo Bar to seek this certification. Moving forward, 'SALAD BITES' Kale & Fruits and 'SALAD BITES' Carrot & Fruits will be distributed in the North American area featuring the certification mark.

**Certified Products**
The two certified products are part of the 'KAWAÌINE' brand. In Tsukuba, Ibaraki, vegetable residues remaining after squeezing organic juice are rich in 'dietary fiber.' These products are a series of granola and crackers with a great texture made abundantly from these fibers.

**SALAD BITES Kale & Fruits**
(Japan name: THIS IS SALAD Kale & Fruits Plate Granola)
Kale, the king of leafy greens, is nutrient-rich but often difficult to prepare. This product offers a taste familiar to both young and elderly people. As the healthy green image suggests, it is packed with dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

**SALAD BITES Carrot & Fruits**
(Japan name: THIS IS SALAD Carrot & Fruits Plate Granola)
The sweetness of carrots and fruits provides a pleasant stimulation to the senses on a tired morning, helping you feel energized for the rest of the day.