Tainted Chinese rice sold for making 'shochu,' crackers in Japan

Friday 05th September, 03:10 PM JST

TOKYO —

A rice products company in Osaka sold imported rice from China and other countries that was tainted with higher-than-allowed levels of pesticide residue and a carcinogenic substance for edible use, such as in Japanese distilled alcoholic beverages and rice crackers, along with products made from the rice, the farm ministry said Friday. The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry ordered the Osaka-based company, Mikasa Foods, to collect the rice and processed products.

The imported rice in question, totaling about 300 tons, was sold to the company on condition it be used for non-edible purposes due to high levels of pesticide residue and a toxic material called aflatoxin. Mikasa Foods sold part of the aflotoxin-tainted rice for use to make ‘‘shochu’’ distilled alcoholic beverages, along with food products made from the rice. Some portion of the rice imported from China and sold to Mikasa Foods contained a toxic organophosphate pesticide called methamidophos, which was also found in imported frozen-dumplings from China. The rice laced with methamidophos was sold for making rice crackers and Japanese confectioneries as were products produced with the rice, the ministry said.

A Mikasa Foods official told reporters that aflatoxin was intentionally mixed with raw materials for shochu at the discretion of then head of the firm’s Kyushu office, denying that the head office was aware of it. The official also denied the government announcement that Mikasa Foods sold milled glutinous rice laced with methamidophos for edible use, saying the rice was only used to produce industrial glue.

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14 Comments

imgold at 05:43 PM JST - 5th September

The chinese clearly stated that this was not for human consumption ! So why did Mikasa, of Japan, ignore this agreement and put the public health at risk ? Meti needs to shut down Mikasa for good ! Time for Japan to instigate a "no tolerence" approach to these domestic food scandals.
outofmydepth at 06:22 PM JST - 5th September

this is unbelievable and they will probably blame it on the chinese. they clearly stated that this rice was for non-edible purposes. what the hell is wrong with japan these days. companies care nothing for their customers. it is just plain criminal.
Starviking at 06:41 PM JST - 5th September

The obvious solution: Send them to JAIL!
serindipity at 06:53 PM JST - 5th September

So, now I know how they get that funky flavor on o'sembe crackers! Mmmmmm! Yummy! Here comes another not-so-public apology and suspended sentence. This is not the fault of the Chinese. It is the fault of the either stupid or greedy (or both) Japanese company.

However, I am curious as to what the non-edible purposes for rice would be.
some14some at 07:06 PM JST - 5th September

The obvious solution: Send them to JAIL!

Right, but at present Jails are over crowded.
kaminarikeizai at 07:32 PM JST - 5th September

If such incident increased day by day than Japanese industry will loose its reputation in the world. Now, I am afraid to eat rice crackers (senbei).
Starviking at 08:53 PM JST - 5th September

These guys sold poisonous rice to make a profit. Jail overcrowding is unfortunate, and should be tackled, but these guys deserve to be there. At the very least it might encourage a few of the other companies out there to go straight.
GW at 10:25 PM JST - 5th September

Mikasa Foods sold milled glutinous rice laced with methamidophos for edible use, saying the rice was only used to produce industrial glue

Now we know the REAL reason for all this sticky J-rice, to make friggin GLUE!! Damn this shud have been obvious..........wonder if the J-public will learn from this.............unlikey, but now us foreign whiners have no excuses, J-rice equal eating GLUE........nice........will need to add more natto now & some kusaiya to make this glue, I mean rice palattable
Sarge at 10:39 PM JST - 5th September

"shochu"

That stuff is already poisonous without tainted rice.
usaexpat at 11:28 PM JST - 5th September

aflatoxins can be very deadly indeed, they are typically a product of improperly stored grain (mold). Exactly who in the hell would intentioanally mix aflatoxins into grains for distilling? Is the translation off or was the person in question trying to poison or kill people? Sarge you just can't drink the cheap stuff, good shochu is one of the great pleasures in life.
JohnBecker at 02:17 AM JST - 6th September

No need for jail - just fine the company right out of existence.
tclh at 06:35 AM JST - 6th September

What were the concentration of pesticides and aflatoxin in final products? If they are low or non existence, perhaps no need for worry but the company still has to be heavily fined.
flammenwerfer at 05:01 PM JST - 9th September

the very best part of this was in yesterdays paper: The did it for 10 years! and the Mikasa prez' said "We confirmed residual pesticide concentrations, so it shouldn't have caused health problems, I assume buyers know about this, but bought it because it was cheaper!

yep there you team, the cheapest stuff on the market ( of likely many products) is the dodgy stuff with pesticides and fungicides in it - that's why it's cheap, buy at your peril.
DenshaDeGO at 12:32 PM JST - 10th September

I thought Mikasa made volleyballs

Yet another company guilty of blatant disregard for the law and the public's safety. Are there any honest companies out there anymore?