In the wake of the Snow Brand Food scandal, another Japanese meat processor has admitted to labelling imported US beef as domestic produce.
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Takamatsu-based Kawai Co. admitted on Friday that it has been adding small portions of US beef to about 60,000 “Kopakku” gift packages, each of which contained 70 grams of assorted beef cuts supposedly produced in Kagawa Prefecture. About 18,800 packages were sold to unwitting Japanese consumers through post offices and via a catalogue distributed by the Mitsukoshi department store last summer.
According to a report in the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper, the company also ordered a Niihama, Ehime Prefecture-based meat processor in which it has a stake, Kyodo Meat Product Ai Co, to mix Miyazaki beef with beef produced in other prefectures. Kyodo Meat imported the US beef and its president, Masahiro Kawai, is also president of Kawai.
The Japanese Fair Trade Commission and the Kagawa prefecture government are investigating the firm.
A team from the Mitsukoshi store argues that is has evidence that the US meat was added deliberately, and that it is considering filing a damages suit against Kawai. Meanwhile, the Chugoku and Shikoku Regional Agricultural Office allegedly told the firm to stop mixing the beef last July when it learned of the practice, but that Kawai did not stop.
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