In view of all the tainted food and mislabeling scandals, what is the consumer to do?
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29 Comments
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0
chibaman
Listen to the five LDP members running for PM spewing their crap out on the streets of Shibuya about what they have to say and decide which is the best candidate to tackle these kinds of problems. No wait, they can't vote for that. So why are Aso and Koike and Yasano and co. out there in the first place? The show of a supposed democracy.
I've come to the correct opinion that the Japanese have taken 'tainted' food and mislabelling (sounds like a mistake when you put it like that) too far, even though it's nice for myself included to have such high standards in place. Re: the recent case of Misaka, you've got recalls all over the place now and at the same time every doctor or other health professional is on the record for saying that the health risk is insignificant. You would have to consume massive amounts of the 'tainted' product every day before there is any side effect. As for relabelling expiry dates and what not, again the health risk is not significant. And as the economy continues to shuffle it's way down the gutter and business conditions become more difficult or competitive, we'll continue to see these scandals. So what will the kanji of the year for 08 be? Fake won it last year so we can't have that again. I suggest hypersensitivity or insanity.
0
motytrah
You vote with your yen and get the gov't to issue real fines. Food quality in Japan is generally quite good. The types of issues that happen in Japan are much better than ones that happen in countries such as China. Though it is interesting to see that western food companies in Japan are almost never in the news over this type of thing.
0
buttamimi
The consumer should just be extra careful when shopping. Shop at supermarkets like the Co-op, check the labels and be suspicious of food on sale for 100 yen. Recently, Chinese food has been rather dodgy, so it might be best to give imported Chinese food a miss for the time being. No names, but there are a few restaurant chains that I would stay well clear of, too. Of course there is no guarantee, but what else can you do?
0
rjd_jr
I agree with buttamimi. Just be a bit careful, but not panic.
0
chibaman
I agree with chibaman.
And consumers who pay double or triple the price for eel then find out said eel does not have Japanese nationality but a Chinese passport (oh my god) get no sympathy when the two are virtually indistinguishable from each other but for where the company prez says it is from.
Bah.
0
mushroomcloud
The Japanese consumer should demand of their leaders to strive for self sufficiency in food production. From the likes of what I hear, China is essentially feeding Japan. Which means that China has Japan by the throat, literally.
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tkoind2
Hunt down and capture all those responsible and make them eat and or drink one of every single product that was tainted by bad products they knowingly sold. And then take every last yen from them to make up for it. And then let them do 5 years of manditory community service in hospitals, elder care centers and other facilities where people were put at risk.
0
pointofview
Importing food is a must for everyone but the regulators should be paying attention to what food and where it is coming from. Restaurants and markets should also be checked on a regular basis by the authorities.
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Nessie
Nothing. It's moronic to panic when food is generally safe and you're more likely to get sick from food poising of sushi than from any of these high-profile tainted products.
0
studebaker
Fasting is one solution. Organic certification in this country seems a bit suspect.
0
serindipity
How can you avoid imported and mislabeled foods in a country where 60% of all food is imported? Unfortunately, you must have faith in the labeling of food. It's a bit like playing lotto - or is that Russian Roulette?
0
suebe36d
The more processed the more disguised the poisons and inferior ingredients. Therefore buy as natural as possible and visual check and smell; even taste if possible
0
yokohamabacon
Replace the bowing and apologies with real legal ramifications.
0
Osakadaz
there is a house near my school that has a vegie garden all the way around their house and right up to their walls and on their walls they have beans,onions and corn growing away.It doesn't look that crash hot but good on them.The more food you can grow yourself the easier it makes things for the planet..it isn't practical but everyone can at least find some space to grow tomatoes.
0
MrMukatsuku
Japan should get an organisation like this:
http://www.which.co.uk/
It has done more for consumer protection than any one else.
Oh, and for the Japanese version, make sure that the consumers organization is not endorsing a product because they were paid to endorse them.
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gaijintraveller
I feel imported foods are generally safer than those produced in Japan. Why? Because I think that imported foods are tested more stringently than those produced in this country. I do not believe the Ministry of Agriculture tests Japanese products that efficiently.
0
bushlover
Diet?
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Triple888
Grow their own food.
0
stanoue
Haha maybe they could get a cheap and nasty tabloid show like "today tonight" on air which revels in bringing these controversies to light. Shame them into fixing it.
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some14some
Buy foreign food products from reliable grocery shops in Japan. Also, people in Japan should stop worrying about green emissions or second-hand smoke.
0
rjdsr
I buy my food from a local guy. I ask him where it's from. He knows I want domestic, the safe stuff.
0
Thenewfront
The consumer can not do much. I buy lots of Asian foods from China , Thailand and other s. Finjd out if the comnpany exports to US or Europe, if they do, the will usually have higher standards.
0
beavis
chew slowly
0
bamboohat
I prefer to run around outside, screaming, in a panic, hoping that some gentle superior entity from on high will come to comfort me...
Either that or chase all suspect food with a shot of whiskey, that usually does the trick...(kind of painful at breakfast, though..)
0
lipscombe
punish the japanese individuals responsible for the majority of the food scandals in japan. no more suspended sentences, close the guilty companies down.
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lipscombe
unless you know for sure it was grown in a local allotment then the guy you speak too is probably just as clueless. yes this spinach is from Chiba, these eels are from Iwate, no it's not from China, no a Japanese company didnt change the labelling and sell it at a 500% mark-up.
0
burikko
Is the ministry of agriculture (Government) not guilty?
0
Betting
I think the consumer needs to get involved by taking a more active role in the political process. By taking an interest in whoever the candidates are at elections, by lobbying them and voting for those that will look after consumer interests things will change. But with the amount of apathy around, I can't really see that happening.
Simply saying, "I want domestic, safe stuff", simply isn't good enough. Domestically produced Japanese foodstuffs aren't safe. The recent scandals prove that, and we can go back years and look at minata-byo, all the dioxin coming from Tokorozawa as well as many others, it's all been catalogued and placed in the papers. In fact your local grocer might be one of those people involved and hasn't been busted yet.
Only by taking an interest and making the politicians turn things around will the country become safe again.
0
rjdsr
Mate, you should try stand up comedy!
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