TOKYO – The operator of the Japanese convenience store chain Ministop said Monday it has suspended the sale of deli items at some 1,600 stores as expiry dates of certain foods prepared by its kitchens have been faked.
While no health damage has been reported so far, sales of onigiri and bento lunch boxes were halted from Aug. 9, and other deli dishes from Monday.
Ministop Co. found that some store workers extended expiry dates by not placing labels on items for 1 to 2 hours after they were prepared at in-house kitchens, while others removed expiry stickers and relabeled them with false dates.
The misconduct has been discovered at 23 stores in Tokyo, Saitama, Aichi, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, and Fukuoka prefectures.
AloJapan.com