Gov't to stop selling tainted rice as preventive step

Wednesday 17th September, 04:46 AM JST

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14 Comments

outofmydepth at 07:24 AM JST - 17th September

i wonder how they will send back the rice as i read that some of the chinese rice was labled usa????!!!! sorry mr. ota. i feel GREAT ANXIETY.
some14some at 07:34 AM JST - 17th September

Govt assurance is good. However, regular monitoring by WTO and WHO may be needed to regain public confidence for safe consumption of rice.
borscht at 07:46 AM JST - 17th September

Great, now the price of glue is going to go up.

Rather than deport tainted rice why doesn't the Ag-Fish-Forest Ministry heavily fine companies and imprison company executives who knowingly re-sell inedible tainted rice as edible? By heavy I mean close down their companies for a few months, fines in the 100s of millions, and prison times in the years. Then, maybe, the Ministry can keep their WTO charade going and simultaneously insure the safety of rice. Just a crazy thought, I know, enforcing the law.
outofmydepth at 07:59 AM JST - 17th September

yes, imprison those responsible and make them eat the rice.
OgieDoggie at 08:00 AM JST - 17th September

Just a crazy thought, I know, enforcing the law. - borscht

If it doesn't happen in Corporate America it sure isn't going to happen in Corporate Japan....but you do have the right idea borscht.
huberts2 at 08:19 AM JST - 17th September

Get's more and more complicated. What was imported? Contaminated rice, knowingly, as a sham under the WTO deal? It doesn't go back/returned but plans as to how to deal with it on delivery surely are made in advance. Since, I'm told, this "rice" (which it isn't )costs say 700yen kilo it is only fit for glue and the price for such is 70 yen. So the taxpayer will pay the difference. "rice" purchased for glue should be sold not to a drinking mate of the Minister, who just happens to have a rice distribution business, but to a glue manufacturer. If what was contracted to be purchased was edible rice and then found to be contaminated, it goes back. (Don't pay 700 for a value of 70). Edible rice received later contaminated doesn't go back but only goes so far as the glue factory and the taxpayer suffers the loss. The real question is, how do they deal with local contaminated rice? If there is a system to ensure this doesn't get into the food chain why can't it be applied to the imported "rice"?
cleo at 09:28 AM JST - 17th September

huberts, where do you get the idea the imported rice cost 700 yen a kilo? Even home-grown Japanese rice is only half that, and it's supposed to be the most expensive in the world.
AlfGarnett at 09:39 AM JST - 17th September

I agree with that Cleo.

Shoildn't the bleeding government not sell it in the first place.Strewth them Japanese politicians is dumber than Brown and his socialist cronies.
serindipity at 10:07 AM JST - 17th September

Too much, too little, too late. - There should be no reason for the government to stop these imports, but we all know you could throw a Japanese food manufacturer further than you can trust him.
huberts2 at 11:13 AM JST - 17th September

Dear Cleo, Thanks for your note. You are perfectly correct. The retail price in Kanazawa for a 10 kilo bag of fair/good rice (edible!) is roughly Yen 3800.( 380 a kilo ). I guess my example wasn't very clear, at "SAY 700".

As I began my first post I began with stating the obvious - it is a very complicated issue. I am reading the Japanese newspapers, recent editions, which elaborate fully on the rice matters and if I feel in the mood shall drop you a another note. Perhaps it is adequate to say now that the contaminated rice has been sold without adequate control for some years to wholesalers, thence to further wholesalers before reaching either the consumers or factory. The price reported for sales from the Government was/is at 5 yen per kilo.

Kindest regards, huberts2
beavis at 12:09 PM JST - 17th September

‘It’s vital to get rid of any chance of tainted rice being distributed in Japan, so consumers will not have to feel anxiety,’’

Something is wrong with this quote. The rice has already been distributed. Is this a translation issue or is this guy Ota that much of an idiot?
dennis0bauer at 12:52 PM JST - 17th September

borscht, they will only reprimand, they will detain those who bribed them in the first place
DXXJP at 01:10 PM JST - 17th September

Isnt this like closing the barn door AFTER the cows have left. Only in japan.
escape_artist at 03:40 PM JST - 17th September

Gov't to stop selling tainted rice...

Duh! About time.

If the govt wouldn't so often put making money before ensuring its citizens' (and residents') health, then this seems like a no-brainer thing to have done form the very beginning, no? Why are these kinds of common-sense things seemingly always done AFTER something happens? And we think one of the five people now running for LDP leadership (i.e., PM) will actually do things that differently? Pffft.

What's needed is real reform that's proactive, not reactive. Which means a PM (and accompanying cabinet) with fresh ideas and the will to make things happen, i.e., someone outside the existing LDP cabal who's not afraid to butt heads with the bureaucracy (the real wielders of power in Japan). And this includes plans and strategies and a conscience when it comes to securing safe & healthy lives for citizens and residents.