TOKYO, Dec 3, 2007 (AFP) - Japan's second-largest convenience store operator Lawson Inc. admitted Monday to selling outdated winter hot pot in the latest in a series of food scares that has rattled public confidence.
Lawson apologised after two of its stores in western Osaka prefecture were found to have sold "oden", a type of Japanese stew, with ingredients such as meatballs and fish cakes that were one or two days past their sell-by dates.
"The managers judged carelessly that there would not be a problem with safety" because the oden ingredients are cooked for more than 30 minutes in a soup at a temperature of 80 degrees C, a company statement said.
Oden is a popular winter dish in Japan that consists of ingredients such as radish, eggs, potatoes and fish meatballs that are simmered in a thin soup.
Lawson, which has more than 8,500 stores in Japan, said it discovered the sales of expired oden after a tip-off from a former employee.
One of the managers admitted to selling expired oden items after the store ordered more food than usual during a discount campaign, it added.
Japan has seen a string of food scandals in recent months with companies ranging from an elite confectioner to the Mister Donut chain and McDonald's admitting to selling products with expired ingredients.
Last month, the former president of a meatpacker was indicted for labelling as pure beef products that actually contained pork, chicken and duck.
