On 28 July 2022, The Environment Health Department of MAHSA University organised a study trip for the students of Faculty of Education and Health Sciences to the Yakult Factory located at Oakland Industrial Park, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.
Three lecturers and fifteen students from Environmental Health Department and Centre of Education and Language went on this trip. At 9.30am, all eighteen participants of the trip departed from MAHSA University and arrived at the Yakult Factory at 10.15am where we were warmly received by Yakult’s Public Relations staff who also our guide for the day, Ms. Sharifah.
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| Pre-departure to Yakult Factory, Seremban |
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| Briefing by Ms Sharifah at the Yakult Factory, Seremban |
Upon arrival, Ms Sharifah delivered a short briefing to introduce
herself and informed us on the itinerary
for the visit which included a tour of the production facility, Yakult tasting
session and an educational presentation
First activity of the day was the visit to production line. Ms Sharifah has explained that in this area, no pictures were allowed. However, visitors were allowed to see all the machines, processes and activities conducted at the production area. Ms Sharifah explained that to make Yakult drinks, they need to grow the Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota, and how this process begins in a room called the Seed Room before the microorganisms are used in the Culture and Mixing Room where Yakult milk is fermented with the lactic acid bacteria before being mixed with syrup to produce the final Yakult product.
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| Briefing given before entering production line |
We also being introduced to the Moulding
Room, where Yakult produces and moulds their own signature bottles for their
drinks. The machine in this room is
capable of producing 7000 bottles/ hour
and temperature used to mould the bottle was at 250á´¼C. For quality control of the
Yakult drink being produced, a Clean Room is used for testing of the drink.
Each tested sample is required to have 30 billion count of Shirota strain and
if this not achieved, the whole batch from which the samples was taken is
withdrawn and disposed. Quality Control Room staff are the ones who conduct the
quality control checks of the Yakult drink from raw materials stage until the
finished products. They are also responsible to ensure the entire factory
environment meets the highest hygiene
standards set..
Yakult drinks that are produced
are filled into bottles and sealed immediately to prevent contamination in the
Filling Room. All the bottles also were labelled based on type of Yakult drink
being produced. As there are only two types of Yakult Drink which are Ace and
Ace Light (less sugar), production only caters to one type of drink in one day
according to a planned schedule. Each drink can last for 45 days from its manufacturing
date as no preservatives and additives are added into the drink.
Last section in the production
line is the Packing Room where Yakult drinks are packed into multiple bottled
packs and wrapped into 2 packs or carton.
After the production facility
tour, all the participants were ushered into a room where a Ms. Sharifah gave a
presentation on the benefit of drinking Yakult everyday and how Yakut is different from other cultured drinks. She
explained about the microbiota inside the human body and factors that can
affect the microbiota in the body. Each of the participants were given a bottle
of Yakult for tasting during the talk and video show to educated the participants
on the goodness of Yakult.
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| Display area for Yakult products |
After the talk, participants of
the visit were allowed to purchase freshly made Yakult drinks and other Yakult
merchandise offered at the counter. From this trip, we learnt and saw
first-hand how food hygiene and safety is pivotal to food manufacturing,
especially in the production of cultured drinks. This trip provides students
with opportunities see the application of principles and processes of food
hygiene and safety they have learnt in the classroom.
At 12.30pm, the students gathered
the lobby of the factory and bade farewell to Ms. Syarifah before returning to
MAHSA University. We arrived in MAHSA University, feeling happy to have learnt
so much from the study visit and healthy with a good dose Yakult cultured drink
in our tummies
#MAHSA #BeMORE #Foodhygiene
#Yakult
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| Yakult Factory in Seremban |