Although the scandal in which tainted rice was resold to some 380 companies in 24 prefectures highlights outrageous behavior on the part of an Osaka rice-flour processor, the resignation of farm minister Mr. Seiichi Ota indicates that the farm ministry was also to blame. The ministry should determine the flaws in its inspection system and work out measures to prevent a similar scandal.
The ministry says that since fiscal 2003 Mikasa Foods has bought 1,408 tons of tainted rice that government imported as "minimum access" stock under 1994 world trade rules. Although the firm was supposed to use the rice for nonedible purposes, it has been found that 135 tons of rice contaminated with the pesticide methamidophos ended up at more than 300 companies and was used to make Japanese cakes and food-service products including school lunches. Most of the rice has already been consumed.
It has also been found that 484 tons of rice contaminated with acetamiprid, another pesticide, ended up at 12 companies, and 2.8 tons of rice contaminated with aflatoxin, a mold toxin, at five companies. Included are alcoholic beverage makers. Three more companies were found to have resold tainted rice.