One of Japan’s best-known bread brands, manufactured by Pasco Shikishima Corporation, has recalled some 104 000 packages of sliced white bread, and is offering refunds after black rat remains were found in at least two packages, on Friday, the 10th of May, reports the British broadcaster BBC.
Pasco bread is a staple in many Japanese households and is widely available in supermarkets and convenience stores across the country.
So far, there have been no reports of anyone falling ill, according to a statement released by Pasco earlier this week.
“We are very sorry for the inconvenience caused to our customers,
business partners and all parties involved,” the statement was quoted as saying.
The factory line in Tokyo has since been shut down, and while the company did not reveal how the rat got into the bread, it promised to strengthen quality control “to ensure this never happens again”.
The company also exports its products to several countries including the US, China, Australia and Singapore and is offering compensation to affected customers using an online form.
Although food recalls are rare in Japan due to high sanitary standards, recent incidents have raised concerns. For example, schoolchildren fell ill from school-supplied milk, a drug manufacturer recalled cholesterol-lowering supplements containing red yeast rice due to possible deaths, and last year the 7 Eleven chain recalled products after a cockroach was found in a rice ball.
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