Mikasa Foods is a wholesale dealer of food products based in Japan. In September 2008, news broke that it had purchased tons of tainted rice from the Japanese government, reportedly planning to use it to make glue. Instead, Mikasa Foods is alleged to have sold at least 600 tons of the rice to more than 300 Japanese food manufacturers. Mikasa has admitted its wrongdoing and apologized publicly, and will face criminal charges.
The Japanese government halted rice imports on September 18, 2008 and Japanese Agricultural Minister Seiichi Ota resigned over the handling of the scandal on September 20, 2008.Wall Street Journal: Rice Scandal Halts ...Deals (September 22, 2008)
Rice and the World Trade Organization
Japan grows enough rice for consumption within its own borders. However, under World Trade Organization rules for import/export, Japan imports 770,000 tons of foreign rice a year, and sells it for use in processed foods, livestock feed, and, in the case of contaminated rice, for industrial use.Wall Street Journal: Rice Scandal Halts Japanese Deals (September 22, 2008)
References
Fast Facts
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The scandal prompted a massive recall of products in Japan on September 17, 2008*Guardian: Toxic rice prompts mass Japanese recall (September 18, 2008)
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Rice from China and Vietnam was bought for 3-10 yen per kilogram, relabeled as domestic or U.S. rice, and sold for 240-250 yen per kilogramDaily Yomiuri: 'Rice-laundering' scandal ... (September 23, 2008)
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Contaminated rice was used for to make school meals for children, rice crackers and sakeWall Street Journal: Rice Scandal Halts Japanese Deals (September 22, 2008)
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