Insecticide found mixed in canned coffee sold in Tokyo

Saturday 10th May, 05:46 AM JST

TOKYO —

A can of coffee sold from a vending machine in Tokyo has been found to be mixed with insecticide, the health ministry said Friday. A man who drank the beverage, made by Pokka Corp, at the vending machine in Chiyoda Ward, complained of an odd taste but did not suffer any apparent side effect or illness, said the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

Detected in the beverage was propoxur, an ingredient of an insecticide used to control cockroaches, flies and other insects, the ministry said. The drink was sold at the vending machine set up inside an office building on April 25, the ministry said. The beverage was produced at the major drink maker’s factory in Isesaki, Gumma Prefecture.

Latest 15 of 37 Total Comments Show All

PuffinMuffin at 05:41 PM JST - 10th May

@smithinjapan: "don't think anyone should ban anything Japanese over this, and I realize people who say so are generally being sarcastic..."

uh nope, just ban canned coffee period b/c I agree that you said it yourself that it is simply -god-awful-
PuffinMuffin at 05:51 PM JST - 10th May

Farmboy, thanks for the info.
soothsayer at 08:58 PM JST - 10th May

Fact is, in this case, the cause will be found, the cause will be eliminated, the responisble people will apologize and be punished if needed.

I wish I could be as idealistic as you, sarcasm123.
unscrejects at 11:26 PM JST - 10th May

Farmboy

The US also imports and exports it to Japan. Did you know that Georgia coffee was a product of Puerto Rico?
soothsayer at 12:33 AM JST - 11th May

Did you know that Georgia coffee was a product of Puerto Rico?

I can't blame the Puerto Ricans: If my coffee tasted like that I'd want it out of my country too.
Sagecat at 01:33 AM JST - 11th May

Are they ever going to catch the person/people behind this? It's getting so bad you'll have to make stuff at home and bring it with you...
OssanULTRA at 07:34 AM JST - 11th May

"The US also imports and exports it to Japan. Did you know that Georgia coffee was a product of Puerto Rico?"

Alot of us psychologically don't really think of Puertoi Rico as part of the United States.
OssanULTRA at 07:36 AM JST - 11th May

"Had it been just ONE Can doubt if it would be in the News & disclosing Company Name."

I am starting up a savings fund to send you to English comprehension class.

"TOKYO — A can of coffee sold from a vending machine in Tokyo has been found to be mixed with insecticide
gaijintraveller at 09:35 AM JST - 11th May

"A can of coffee sold from a vending machine in Tokyo has been found to be mixed with insecticide, the health ministry said Friday." Read this carefully. It was obviously a scientific experiment to improve the efficiency of the insecticide. The man bought a can of coffee from a vending machine and added it to some insecticide in an attempt to either make it more effective or to attract insects that like sugar as canned coffee contains an excessive amount. He then tasted it to test its efficacy.
PepinGalarga at 02:43 PM JST - 11th May

unscrejects:

I find it hard to believe that the #1 coffee drink in Japan is from Puerto Rico. PR doesnt make enough coffee, and its way too expensive compared to most other coffees. Can you prove this allegation?
realist at 02:58 PM JST - 11th May

No more canned coffee for me, thats for sure. The stuff generally tastes vile, anyway!
sarcasm123 at 12:44 PM JST - 12th May

"So we'll see a press conference with a bunch of old guys staring at their shoes and there'll be the sound of cameras clicking and flashes going off. Then it will be back to business as usual."

Very well said, blvtzpk. WE will indeed see ONLY that press conference, and YOU will assume this is all that happens. YOU will be wrong, however.
blvtzpk at 08:27 PM JST - 12th May

WE will indeed see ONLY that press conference, and YOU will assume this is all that happens. YOU will be wrong, however.

Because YOU know what happens BEHIND the scenes at EACH and EVERY company, don't YOU? Pull the other one - it plays jingle BELLS!
blvtzpk at 01:17 PM JST - 13th May

AH...I forgot to mention how a similar scene played itself out in my workplace. And yes, it was business as usual after the public apologies had been gotten out of the way.
sarcasm123 at 02:01 PM JST - 14th May

"AH...I forgot to mention how a similar scene played itself out in my workplace. And yes, it was business as usual after the public apologies had been gotten out of the way."

Ah... the "Oh, I could have brought this up hours ago to make a strong impression but I forgot"-excuse for suddenly remembering a very convenient but unfortunately fake example.

What did you do about it? Did you inform the police? Or are you part of the system?