Latest news with #Ministop
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Japan chain stops rice ball sales after staff fake expiry dates
A Japanese convenience store chain has suspended the sale of rice balls, or onigiri, and other deli items at 1,600 stores after it found that staff had faked their expiry dates. Staff at some stores extended expiry dates by not sticking labels on the dishes until an hour or two after they were prepared. Others relabelled the items with false dates after they were put on sale, Ministop found. The misconduct was reported at 23 stores across the country, including in major cities like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. The chain has paused onigiri sales at most of its outlets since 9 August, and on Monday extended the pause to other deli items, for an "emergency investigation". "We sincerely apologise for the significant inconvenience caused to our customers who have supported Ministop's handmade onigiri and handmade bento boxes," the company said in a statement on Monday. Customers have not reported any health issues so far, it added. Convenience stores or konbini are part of daily life in Japan, where people - especially commuters - stop by for affordable and filling meals and last-minute groceries and banking errands. Onigiri is popular among customers who want grab-and-go meals as the rice balls are easy to carry - wrapped in nori or dried seaweed and filled with protein like tuna salad or cod eggs. Ministop operates more than 1,800 stores across Japan. Its focus on fresh food – with hot meals prepared on site – sets it apart from the larger chains.
NBC News
a day ago
- Business
- NBC News
Japanese chain halts rice ball sales over fake expiration dates
TOKYO — A Japanese convenience store chain has pulled its handmade rice balls, also known as onigiri, from shelves after employees were caught faking expiration dates. Ministop, which has more than 1,800 stores across Japan, said it was conducting an 'emergency investigation' at all of its stores after discovering that staff at some locations had incorrectly labeled the expiration dates for the rice balls, which are prepared in-store. Production of handmade rice balls and bento boxes has been suspended since Aug. 9, the company said in a statement Monday. It said it had so far confirmed that staff at 23 locations nationwide had engaged in 'sales methods that deviated from our product manufacturing regulation.' Products that should have been promptly labeled with expiration dates after being prepared in store kitchens 'were left without any labels for a length of time in order to extend the expiration period,' it said, while products already on display 'were relabeled with expiration dates.' Ministop said it had reported the 23 stores to the health department and that it would 'continue to conduct inspections, investigate the causes of these incidents and make every effort to prevent a recurrence.' No customers have reported any related health issues, the company said. 'We sincerely apologize for the significant inconvenience caused to our customers,' it said. Onigiri, a staple of Japanese food culture, is typically stuffed with grilled salmon, beef or pickled plum and wrapped in crispy seaweed. It is a popular item in Japan, where convenience stores such as Ministop, known as konbini, are a lifeline for customers seeking fresh to-go meals.
NDTV
a day ago
- Business
- NDTV
Staff Of Major Convenience Store Chain In Japan Found Faking Expiry Dates On Food
Ministop, a popular convenience store chain in Japan, recently made headlines after it suspended sales of its in-house deli items. Staff members across various branches were reportedly found tampering with the expiry dates affixed on these food items. They didn't label the food until 1-2 hours after it had been prepared on the premises. In some cases, they replaced existing expiry date stickers with fake ones. This serious problem has been discovered at 23 Ministrop stores so far, including ones in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Saitama, Aichi, and others. Also Read: Japanese Chef Opens Maharashtrian 'Bhojnalaya' In Japan, Video Goes Viral Ministop has issued a public apology. "We sincerely apologise to customers who purchased handmade onigiri and bento (lunch boxes), as well as other concerned parties, for the significant inconvenience caused," the company said in a statement. Ministop has stopped selling onigiri (Japanese rice balls) and bento lunches at most of its stores since August 9. Later, it suspended the sales of other deli foods, too, across around 1600 outlets nationwide. Ministop operates a total of 1,818 stores across Japan as of July 2025, as per Japan Today. It is among the most well-known convenience store brands in the country. The chain franchise is operated by Ministop Co., Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Aeon Co. (one of Japan's largest retail companies). One of Ministop's distinctive features is its in-house kitchens that prepare fresh foods like sandwiches, bento boxes, soft-serve ice creams, rice balls and various other snacks. There are designated seating areas inside stores where customers can consume their purchased treats. Such grab-and-go food items from convenience stores are a staple part of the daily lives of many people in Japan.
The Mainichi
a day ago
- Business
- The Mainichi
2 Ministop stores in Kyoto suspected of falsifying expiry dates for years
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Two branches of the Japanese convenience store chain Ministop in Kyoto Prefecture are suspected of falsifying expiry dates on foods prepared in their kitchens for several years, the local health center said Tuesday. The revelation comes after operator Ministop Co., a subsidiary of retail giant Aeon Co., said Monday it had found such misconduct at 23 stores in Tokyo, Saitama, Aichi, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka prefectures. While no health problems have been reported, Ministop has temporarily suspended sales of rice balls, bento box lunches and other deli items at about 1,600 stores nationwide. During questioning by the local health center, workers at two branches in Kyoto Prefecture said they had delayed affixing labels to items prepared in in-house kitchens "for several years." Meanwhile, workers at two Ministop stores in Hyogo Prefecture were allegedly instructed by owners to falsify expiry dates when excess food was prepared. Local health centers in both prefectures have issued guidance under relevant food laws to the stores. The misconduct at 23 stores was discovered in June by a private organization contracted by Ministop to conduct regular inspections. With nearly half of the stores in Osaka Prefecture, the prefectural government said it plans to conduct on-site inspections at three stores within its jurisdiction to ascertain the situation.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Japan chain stops rice ball sales after staff fake expiry dates
A Japanese convenience store chain has suspended the sale of rice balls, or onigiri, and other deli items at 1,600 stores after it found that staff had faked their expiry dates. Staff at some stores extended expiry dates by not sticking labels on the dishes until an hour or two after they were prepared. Others relabelled the items with false dates after they were put on sale, Ministop found. The misconduct was reported at 23 stores across the country, including in major cities like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. The chain has paused onigiri sales at most of its outlets since 9 August, and on Monday extended the pause to other deli items, for an "emergency investigation". "We sincerely apologise for the significant inconvenience caused to our customers who have supported Ministop's handmade onigiri and handmade bento boxes," the company said in a statement on Monday. Customers have not reported any health issues so far, it added. Convenience stores or konbini are part of daily life in Japan, where people - especially commuters - stop by for affordable and filling meals and last-minute groceries and banking errands. Onigiri is popular among customers who want grab-and-go meals as the rice balls are easy to carry - wrapped in nori or dried seaweed and filled with protein like tuna salad or cod eggs. Ministop operates more than 1,800 stores across Japan. Its focus on fresh food – with hot meals prepared on site – sets it apart from the larger chains.
