3 executives convicted in vegetable false labeling case

Thursday 02nd July, 04:30 AM JST

NAGASAKI —

Three former food-processing company executives were convicted Wednesday of falsely labeling vegetables grown in China and selling them as domestically grown products. The Nagasaki District Court sentenced Toshihachi Abe, 68, former president of Cassey Co., to two years in prison, suspended for three years, for violating the unfair competition prevention law. The lower court handed the same sentence to Tsuneo Takayama, 59, former managing director of the now-defunct company, and Chimatoshi Yamamoto, 44, former chief of Cassey’s Nagasaki plant.

According to the ruling, the three conspired to put about two tons of Chinese-grown cauliflower and green asparagus into cardboard boxes labeled ‘‘domestically produced’’ at the plant in Minamishimabara between July and September last year. The vegetables were later delivered mainly for school food services. A judge said the crime fueled anxiety among consumers and people engaged in school food services at a time when public interest in food safety was increasing. Prosecutors had sought two years in prison for all three defendants.

Kyodo

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9 Comments

bcbrownboy at 06:52 AM JST - 2nd July

Send them to China to work in the fields!
Den Den at 07:12 AM JST - 2nd July

I agree.
OneForAll at 08:33 AM JST - 2nd July

You would think China needs all the vegetables it produces. The Philippines could produce a lot of fresh vegetables for us and probably does. More cheaper potatoes please.
as_the_crow_flies at 08:34 AM JST - 2nd July

Send them to China to work in the fields!

No, just make them write "Zisu izu aa Chineezu corifrower" 100 times by hand on the side of each box before they send it for the lucky lucky schoolchildren to eat with their mercury-loaded, locally sourced fish.
buggerlugs at 09:41 AM JST - 2nd July

What a suspended sentence? I am in shock over the harshness of this ruling... How can such a sentence be considered? Ok enough with the sarcasm. I agree send em to work in the fields.
alargo at 09:46 AM JST - 2nd July

"the unfair competition prevention law"

Even given the Japanese penchant for sleazery, this one just left me drooling on my desk like a good melamin pot-sticker consumer. Can't we even pretend that the concern is over public health rather than the obvious reality that it is about "competition?" No one in this country would even recognize the word if it weren't directly preceded by "unfair."

OneForAll... The point being that the "unfair competition law" is obviously designed to inhibit the marketing of "more cheaper potatoes."

It would seem that the Chinese are hell-bent upon destroying the world while the Japanese are content to spread "heso magaru" disease, pachinko and fraud to all points.
stirfry at 04:23 PM JST - 2nd July

business as usual in the j-food industry
movieguy at 06:01 PM JST - 2nd July

What a surprise! More suspended sentences for the rich and powerful in Japan.
cuddles2009 at 09:47 PM JST - 2nd July

next time lets just relabel thier salary slips.....hehehehehe!!

Also look at the ages of those convicted, shame on you greed for profit.

No wonder the young have no respect for the older generation with examples like this

!!!