The Japanese food industry is stepping up efforts to provide more information about their products after a string of scandals that have made the world’s most suspicious consumers more wary of food safety.


Full traceability is becoming the norm for many retailers in response to a slew of consumer anxieties over food safety, following a BSE outbreak, numerous faking of sell by date food scandals, and worries over Chinese imports.
 
Japan’s food safety laws require food producers to carry labels identifying where their ingredients come from. However, more and more retailers such as Aeon Co are increasing the number of private-brand items that carry labels stating the content’s country of origin.


Meanwhile, seafood processor Maruha Corp. plans to create a system to collect data on marine products used in prepared foods sold by supermarkets and share information on their country of origin and processing history with retailers.