Photo/Illutration Akihiko Yasui holds a bag of Sonae and his pet dog, Sakura, in Habikino, Osaka Prefecture. (Hiromi Seki)

HABIKINO, Osaka Prefecture--The owner of a horse-meat processing company whose business was damaged in a typhoon has created an allergy-free emergency food product for babies and pets during disasters.

The newly developed risotto-like “Sonae” (preparedness) has a mild taste, said Akihiko Yasui, 42.

When Typhoon No. 21 pounded the Kinki region in September last year, roof tiles were blown off Yasui Shoten, Yasui’s horse-meat processing and sales shop. Violent gusts also smashed windows and damaged the veranda.

Yasui’s nearby house was spared, and he, his wife, their two children and their dog, Sakura, were not injured.

But Yasui felt uneasy when he thought about how his family would have fared if the house was damaged and they were forced to live in an evacuation center. He wondered how he could protect his family and pet.

An idea popped into his head in January when he was watching “Manpuku,” a serial drama on Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) about a man who invented instant ramen with a long shelf life.

Yasui decided to develop an emergency food product edible for people and pets.

In March, he attended a lecture for the Level 3 course for the qualification in pet disaster management, which is offered by a private entity.

Drawing on advice from a veterinarian whom he met during the lecture, Yasui devised ways to increase the moisture in emergency food to help disaster survivors get through several days without water or other liquids.

The main ingredient in Sonae is his company’s fresh horse meat, which contains an abundance of protein and other nutrients while having a relatively low risk of causing allergic reactions.

Yasui used brown rice for the product out of consideration to consumers with wheat allergies.

He also mixed in 12 ingredients, including cabbage and sweet potato, after consulting with a dietitian.

The result was an emergency food product that is additive-free and nutritionally balanced.

The product will come in handy if distribution networks stop functioning in a disaster, he said.

“Families with pets, children with allergic tendencies and their families are more vulnerable to disasters,” Yasui said. “With this (Sonae), even households with babies, dogs or cats can make it through for a while. I hope people are prepared with Sonae and evacuate lightly and quickly when the worst occurs.”

Sonae can be stored for up to about a year. It can be fed as it is to infants, dogs and cats, Yasui said. Adults can add salt for flavor.

A single bag of Sonae weighing about 250 grams is available for 800 yen ($7.40), excluding tax, at both Yasui Shoten and online (https://saiboshi.net/).