Japanese consumers, whose confidence in meat has been buffeted recently by labelling scandals at Snow Brand Foods and an unnamed supermarket chain, reeled yesterday [Thursday] from news that the country’s number-three meat wholesaler, Starzen Co Ltd, has also been caught falsely labelling cheaper beef and pork as pricier brands.
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Starzen was forced to admit to selling falsely labelled meat to 16 supermarkets operated by Kyushu Jusco Co Ltd after a farm ministry inspection of the firm’s Kyushu meat centre detected the irregularities.
The company admitted the scam, which allowed the goods to be sold 30% higher than they should have been, had been going on with pork products since June 2000 and with beef products since July 2000.
Aeon Co, the parent company of Kyushu Jusco, responded to the news by insisting that all of its units would cease to sell Starzen products for the foreseeable future.
The Japanese government responded by stating it would crack down on food fraud, and that the farm ministry would be carrying out a thorough investigation. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told reporters that this scandal “is truly regrettable as it demolishes consumer confidence”.
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By GlobalDataShares in Starzen were ask-only at the midday break on Thursday, down 33% but with no buyers at ¥103, after the company admitted to the scam.
