It is outrageous that the president of an Osaka rice flour processor found to have resold contaminated rice to other companies was well aware of the dangers involved. The agriculture ministry and police must unravel the transaction routes and identify the end products. Consumers have the right to know what products are at risk.
Mikasa Foods bought 1,779 tons of rice from the government in and after fiscal 2003 on the condition that it would be used for nonedible purposes such as industrial glue. Contaminated with pesticide residues or mold toxin, or damaged by water, the rice was part of "minimum access" stocks that had been imported from China, Vietnam and other countries under 1994 world trade rules.
Two firms in Aichi Prefecture also have been found to have resold contaminated rice. The ministry should strengthen inspection of firms that buy such rice from the government.