Mochi (rice cakes)

How to read Japanese mochi (rice cakes) labels

When comparing mochi (rice cakes) (切り餅・丸餅) sold in Japan, the mandatory label block on the back or side of the package provides the exact ingredient breakdown required under Japan's Food Labeling Standards (or Household Goods Quality Labeling Act for detergents and cosmetics). On Urayomi, we photograph or verify the official manufacturer disclosure for each item and separate base ingredients from food additives.

Products reviewed on this shelf include 越後製菓 生一番 切り餅 1kg (越後製菓, no food additives), 越後製菓 生一番 まる餅 1kg (越後製菓, no food additives), 木村食品 木村の切りもち 1kg (木村食品, 3 additives) and 木村食品 国内産米生きり餅 ひと切れ包装 1kg (木村食品, 2 additives).

How many mochi (rice cakes) products on Urayomi contain no food additives?

Out of 6 mochi (rice cakes) products whose Japanese back-of-package labels we have transcribed on Urayomi, 4 products are made with zero food additives, and 2 contain one or more food additives (an average of 0.8 food additives per product).

What ingredients and food additives appear most often on Japanese mochi (rice cakes) labels?

The most common primary ingredients across these 6 products are 水稲もち米, もち米粉調製品（もち米粉）, もち米. Frequently used food additives include PH調整剤, グリシン, 加工でんぷん.

How do you check for food additives on a Japanese mochi (rice cakes) package?

Under Japan's Food Labeling Standards, food ingredients are listed first in descending order by weight, followed by a full-width slash (／) or line break, after which all food additives (such as emulsifiers, seasonings, or preservatives) are listed.

To paste and analyze any Japanese ingredient list (原材料名) yourself, use the Ingredient Checker, or browse our Ingredients A–Z and Food Additive Database comparing Japan's rules with EU (EFSA) and US regulations.