The agriculture ministry meanwhile said the company began mislabeling its products as far back as 1983 and that it has sold 368 tons of falsely labeled meat products to 18 companies since last July.

"It is difficult to maintain our company now," Yoshihito Tanaka, senior managing director of the Hokkaido-based firm and a son of President Minoru Tanaka, told a meeting of its employees, according to company officials. "We will have to fire you."

Meanwhile, the agriculture ministry ordered nationwide inspections of ground beef after the scandal.

The Japan Times Weekly: June 30, 2007
(C) All rights reserved