Manufacturing Process
How do we make Yakult?
Our mission is to help create a happier world through bacteria – one little bottle at a time. Back in 1935, Yakult bottles were made of glass, filled by hand, and topped with a cork stopper.
Our little bottle
The iconic Yakult bottle hasn’t changed much since it was first developed in 1968 by award-winning designer, Isamu Kenmochi. It was designed to be instantly recognisable, easy to drink from and totally original. Our famous shape was inspired by the traditional Japanese Kokeshi doll – a lucky charm.
So, what goes into making a perfect bottle of Yakult?
There are a few key elements: Yakult’s unique bacteria, high quality ingredients and a complex fermentation process conducted under strict quality controls and procedures. Did you know that it takes nearly a week of fermentation to make a bottle of Yakult? This is in part what makes Yakult truly unique.
One week filled with care, warmth (literally) and fermentation.
Counting billions of bacteria
Yep – we really do count them! Quality control checks in our factory ensure that a minimum of 20 billion of our unique strain, L. casei Shirota, are in every little bottle. These checks are carried out on every single batch. Thank you, bacteria counters!
