Glue maker Asai faces charges for rice scam

The farm ministry said Thursday it has lodged a criminal complaint against glue maker Asai, alleging the company sold tainted rice to a wholesaler in the knowledge it would be later resold as food. Based on the complaint, Aichi Prefectural Police are expected to launch an investigation and raid Asai's Nagoya headquarters soon on the suspected violation of the Food Sanitation Law, police sources said. It is the second criminal complaint filed by the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry in connection with the widespread misuse of contaminated imported rice. The ministry took similar action last month against Osaka rice miller Mikasa Foods. Mikasa made huge profits by buying a large amount of imported rice classified by the government as inedible, due to contamination by pesticide or mold, and reselling it for food use... [read full story]