October 23, 2007

Japanese chicken firm investigated for mislabeling

A Japanese company has issued a recall of its products after investigations began on its use of a cheaper poultry breed for its smoked products than it previously claimed. 

Hinaidori Co, in Akita Prefecture, advertised its smoked products as being made from a special breed of locally produced poultry known as Hinaidori chicken, but in fact did not use the breed, according to prefectural government officials.

The company is now on suspicion of selling mislabelled smoked chicken meat and eggs, and violating the Food Sanitation Law.

Hinaidori President Seiichi Fujiwara admitted that the company began falsely labeling such products more than 10 years ago.

According to the officials, inspectors from the Odate health center inspected the company Tuesday after a tip from an anonymous person the previous day. During investigations, employees told the officials that they used chicken from farmers and companies in the area.

According to a private credit research agency, Hinaidori sold the mislabeled products to various parts of the country, with sales of about 400 million yen (US$3.5 million )  for the year ending in March.