McDonald’s Japan : tofu nuggets

McDonald’s Japan started serving its new chicken-less nuggets featuring tofu, fish and vegetables. The Tofu Shinjo Nuggets are served with ginger sauce and priced at ¥249 ($2.44) for four pieces.

Less than a week after announcing it would halt sales of all chicken products imported from China following a scandal at chicken-nugget supplier Shanghai Husi Food Co., Japan’ largest restaurant chain by revenue said it would start serving Tofu Shinjo Nuggets. They are made mainly from tofu and vegetables.

“The new nuggets do not include any chicken” but are made from ingredients that include onions, soybeans, carrots and minced fish, a spokeswoman at McDonald’s Japan said. The nuggets, to be manufactured in domestic factories, will be available beginning Wednesday for ¥249 ($2.44) for four pieces.

This is first nugget product to feature tofu as the main ingredient, the spokeswoman said, adding that McDonald’s Japan had planned to introduce the product before the scandal in China came to light. Shinjo is a kind of Japanese food made of fish paste, starch and other ingredients.

The new tofu nuggets will be served with a ginger-flavored sauce. “Because it isn’t meat, it tastes a bit different. It’s a bit softer,” the spokeswoman said. “Calorie-wise, it is a bit lower than chicken as well.” Tofu Shinjo Nuggets will be available until late September.

Following Chinese media reports earlier this month that Shanghai Husi Food was using expired meat in its products, McDonalds Japan said it would cut ties with the supplier.

“I would like to extend my sincere apology to our valued customers,” said Sarah Casanova, chief executive of McDonald’s Japan, at a news conference Tuesday. She said the company was committed to safety and described the issue as “restricted to one supplier in one city.”