Ministop Suspends Production After Staff Faked Expiration Labels on Onigiri
A Japanese convenience store chain has removed its handmade rice balls, known as onigiri, from shelves after employees were found to have falsified expiration dates. Ministop, with over 1,80 stores nationwide, suspended production of rice balls and bento boxes on August 9 following an emergency investigation. The company confirmed that staff at 23 locations had incorrectly labeled expiration dates to extend the product's shelf life, relabeling items already on display. Ministop reported the affected stores to the health department and pledged to investigate the causes and prevent recurrence. No health issues have been reported by customers. Onigiri, a traditional Japanese food wrapped in seaweed, is typically filled with grilled salmon, beef, or pickled plum. The company apologized for the inconvenience.