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Is there a fraudulent food labeling happening in Japan?

By on February 7, 2022

Japan has always enjoyed an excellent reputation for food safety.

However, a damning report by Jiji Press yesterday tells a different story. Consumer trust is beginning to erode in Japan after suspicions emerged that many asari (clams) sold in the market labeled to be produced in Kumamoto Prefecture, were purportedly mixed with those imported from overseas. 
According to a fisheries ministry survey, about 80% of asari clams sold at supermarkets around the country from October-December of last year are believed to have been labeled from Kumamoto. In a swift response by Kumamoto Governor Ikuo Kabashima, all shipment of clams from the prefecture would be halted for a period of 2 months starting Feb. 8 over the problem of fraudulent food labeling practices.
Jiro Kaneko, Japan’s Agriculture Minister, Forestry and Fisheries, reported that the amount of Asari (clams) produced in Kumamoto Prefecture sold in large amounts, greatly exceeds the typical annual harvest. Apparently, the sales volume of 2,485 tons is 100 times greater than 21 tons of locally harvested clams recorded in 2020.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 97% of clams harvested from Kumamoto may have been mixed with those from overseas. Clams produced in China and elsewhere are suspected to have been mixed with Kumamoto-harvested clams, resulting in the falsification of the food origin. In recent months, Japanese businesses were slapped with administrative warnings over fraudulent origin labeling for eels and squids.

Similar fraudulent food labeling incidents in Japan created a stir in 2007 involving Fujiya’s cream puff, Ishiya’s Shiroi Koibito, Meat Hope’s meat, Akafuku Mochi, and Funaba Kichicho. In 2008, it was discovered that Korean wakame seaweed was sold in the market under the guise of Naruto wakame seaweed.

Under Japan’s Food Labeling Act, domestic food manufacturers are strictly required to comply with certain labeling standards on containers and packages such as origin, weight, etc…  Any deviation from its Food Labeling standards are not allowed to be sold in the market.

Japan is therefore revising the Food Labeling Act which will take effect from April 2022. Under the amendment, the method by which food origin and ingredients are labeled will further be expanded. Up until now, the mandatory country of origin labeling of processed foods has been limited to only 22 food groups such as green tea and cut vegetables, and four individual items such as kabayaki eel. With the impending change, the country of origin for all processed foods except for imported products, will now be clearly indicated on the packaging.

 

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