A local public health center confirmed Oct. 27 that chloric acid in the purified underground water at an Itoham Foods Inc. factory in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, exceeds the permissible level.

No health problems resulting from the acid have been reported so far, according to the center.

The tests were conducted after the food manufacturer announced Oct. 25 it had detected cyanogen compounds exceeding the government's safety standard in wells at the Kashiwa factory.

On Oct. 28, Itoham announced that 640,000 packages of 13 products made for other brands at its plant in Chiba Prefecture will be recalled in addition to its own brand products because toxic substances exceeding government standards have been detected in the factory's groundwater.