Ministop Halts Onigiri Sales Amid Spoiled Expiry Date Scandal

Ministop has temporarily stopped the sale of onigiri and deli items across its 1,600 stores following revelations of employees tampering with expiry dates at multiple locations.

A prominent convenience store chain in Japan, Ministop, has taken the significant step of halting the sale of rice balls, known as onigiri, along with other deli products at approximately 1,600 locations nationwide. This decision comes after the company discovered that staff at 23 of its stores had been falsifying expiry dates on food items. Reports indicate that some employees were delaying the application of expiry labels for one to two hours after food preparation, while others were re-labeling products with incorrect dates once they were already for sale.

The chain's management first paused onigiri sales on August 9 and has now broadened this suspension to include other deli items as part of an urgent internal investigation into the matter. In a public statement issued on Monday, the company expressed its sincere apologies to customers for the distress and trouble caused by this incident, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining high food safety standards. Importantly, the company noted that no health issues have been reported among customers as a result of this misconduct.

In Japan, convenience stores, locally referred to as konbini, play a central role in daily life, serving as accessible spots for quick meals and essential groceries. Onigiri is especially popular among busy commuters due to its convenience, being easy to transport and typically wrapped in nori (seaweed), containing various fillings like tuna salad or cod eggs. Ministop, which operates over 1,800 stores throughout Japan, places a strong emphasis on fresh food, featuring hot meals made on-site, distinguishing itself from larger retail chains.