Ministop Halts Rice Ball Sales Amid Expiry Date Scandal

Ministop has announced a temporary suspension of rice ball and deli item sales at over 1,600 stores due to a scandal involving staff altering expiry dates. The chain is conducting an emergency investigation following reports from 23 locations, including major cities, but assures customers there have been no health issues linked to the misconduct.

In a troubling development, Ministop, a popular Japanese convenience store chain, has announced the halt of rice ball, or onigiri, sales across 1,600 locations following the discovery of staff falsifying expiry dates. Investigations revealed that in 23 stores, employees manipulated the freshness of deli items by delaying the application of expiry labels for an hour or two after preparation, or by rewriting the expiry dates post-sale.

As a precautionary measure, Ministop has been suspending the sale of their beloved onigiri since August 9, and has recently expanded this ban to include other deli offerings while an "emergency investigation" is underway. In an official statement, the company expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to customers who cherish their homemade onigiri and bento offerings.

Despite the serious nature of the misconduct, there have been no reported health issues from customers thus far. Convenience stores, or konbini, play an essential role in Japanese daily life, providing quick and affordable dining options, particularly for busy commuters who rely on easy-to-carry meals like onigiri, known for their convenient packaging in nori and protein fillings such as tuna or cod eggs.

Ministop operates over 1,800 branches throughout Japan, distinguishing itself from larger competitors with a commitment to fresh, onsite-prepared food, a strategy that could be jeopardized by this recent scandal. The company is currently working to reassure its patrons as they navigate the fallout from this situation.