Written By: Prerna Mittra | Published : May 10, 2024 3:57 PM IST
The company 'Pasco Shikishima' said that an investigation had been started to find out how the remains of the rats got inside two sliced bread packets of theirs. (Representational image/Freepik)
In any country, food safety and hygiene are super important to ensure the health of its population. As such, many practices are in place that ensure quality in food and food products. In Japan -- a country that is hailed for its technology and culinary experiments -- over 1,00,000 packets of sliced bread were recalled recently after the manufacturer revealed that 'remains of black rats' were found inside two packets. Since they could not ascertain the extent of damage to the breads -- given that there was not much clarity on the presence of rats/rat remains on other batches -- lakhs of packets were retracted and an apology was tendered.
According to an Independent report, the company 'Pasco Shikishima' said earlier this week that an investigation had been started to find out how the remains of the rats got inside two sliced bread packets of theirs. The company -- established in a country that is celebrated for its sanitation and hygiene standards -- stated that it has not found anyone who took ill after consuming the 'sliced white Chojuku bread' thus far. "We would like to apologise deeply for causing trouble to our customers and clients," its official statement read, as mentioned in the Independent report.
Pasco is recalling 5-slice and 6-slice packs of Chojuku Yamagata bread after reports that a rat or rats may have got into the manufacturing process at a plant in Tokyo. Look for expiration dates from the 7th to the 11th of May and the factory code below. https://t.co/q566QVP1pzpic.twitter.com/mh8BQojB87
Mulboyne (@Mulboyne) May 8, 2024
Apparently, the factory in Tokyo -- where the production of bread takes place -- has 'suspended operation' at the moment, and a probe has been ordered. "We will strengthen our quality management system to ensure there will not be a recurrence," the company added.
According to a blog post in Lloyd Pest Control, rats are a threat to health, because they can 'quickly spread illness'. They are capable of containing many diseases, and since they 'munch on food and water, and leave droppings and urine behind', they spread serious illnesses.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that food products that have been exposed to 'filth, like rats, mice and other rodents', can make a person and their family members sick. As such, it is important to throw away such foods in plastic and paper containers. If a can or a jar is dented, crushed, or bulging, or has 'deep rusting, cracks, holes, punctures, or a broken seal', it should be discarded immediately, and in a way that it is out of reach of people or other animals; otherwise, infections and illnesses may spread.
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