Things were quiet at Snow Brand Milk Products Co.'s factories across the country Wednesday morning after Japan's top dairy product manufacturer announced the suspension of operations at all of its 21 plants for inspections.
Meanwhile, more and more supermarkets have decided to withdraw all Snow Brand products from their shelves in response to consumer anxiety and anger.
At Snow Brand's first factory in Sapporo, employees began arriving at work shortly before 9 a.m. They refused to respond to reporters' questions.
The factory in Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture, decided to distribute as much as 30 percent of its ordinary milk orders because local schools could not find a quick substitute for school lunches, factory officials said.
The plant had already taken orders from some retailers, they added.
The Shizuoka factory will suspend operations after filling orders placed Tuesday, factory officials said. It had just resumed operations Monday after municipal officials had confirmed the safety of products made there.
Officials at the Sapporo Tokyu Store, a chain of 22 supermarkets around the city, said they stopped selling Snow Brand milk and yogurt Wednesday. They said this was because they have no expectations of a stable supply due to the suspension order.
The Co-op Miyagi supermarket chain's 43 stores also decided to withdraw all Snow Brand products starting Monday morning, according to Co-op officials.
"There are strong ill feelings among our customers when they see Snow Brand products on store shelves," an official said.
A consumer in Sendai's Aoba Ward said, "I am worried about whether other makers have such poor management as well."