TOKIO – A chain of Japanese convenience stores has thrown its handmade rice balls, also known as Onigiri, from shelves after employees were trapped to fail the expiration dates.
Ministop, who has more than 1,800 stores in Japan, said he was carrying out an “emergency research” in all its stores after discovering that the staff in some places had incorrectly labeled the expiration dates for rice balls, which are prepared in the store.
The production of handmade rice balls and Bento boxes has been suspended since August 9, the company said in a statement on Monday.
He said that until now he had confirmed that the staff of 23 locations throughout the country had participated in “sales methods that deviated from our product manufacturing regulation.”
The products that should have been labeled immediately with expiration dates after being prepared in the kitchens of the stores “were left without labels for a period of time to extend the expiration period,” he said, while the products already on display “were reprimanded again with expiration dates.”
Ministop said he had informed the 23 stores to the Department of Health and that “he would continue to carry out inspections, investigate the causes of these incidents and do everything possible to avoid recurrence.”
No client has reported any related health problem, said the company.
“We sincerely apologize for the significant inconveniences caused to our clients,” he said.
Onigiri, a basic element of the culture of Japanese food, is generally filled with grilled salmon, beef or squad plum and wrapped in crispy algae. It is a popular article in Japan, where convenience stores as a ministop, known as Konbini, are a lifeguard for customers looking for fresh meals to carry.
Arata Yamamoto reported from Tokyo, and Chelsea Chan reported from Hong Kong.
