Due to an increasing number of people experiencing discomfort after consuming bento boxes, the city of Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture, Japan, has announced that the local railway bento manufacturer, 'Yoshidaya,' will cease operations by September 23.
So far, a total of 270 people in Tokyo and 26 prefectures across Japan have reported feeling unwell after eating bento boxes from Yoshidaya in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture.
According to the Yamagata Prefecture and Yamagata City Health Department, four individuals who purchased and consumed Yoshidaya bento boxes from a supermarket in the prefecture experienced symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. Fortunately, none of them developed severe symptoms, and they have since recovered.
This issue is spreading nationwide. Hiroki Honma, the head of the Environmental Health Division at the Murayama Public Health Center, stated that this is only a hypothesis.
Hiroki Honma from the Murayama Public Health Center's Environmental Health Division said, 'In areas with high temperatures, it appears that there may be deficiencies in hygiene management during the food production process.'
As of the 22nd, the Hachinohe City Public Health Center announced that approximately 22,000 products produced on September 15th and 16th, which are believed to have caused the illness, were distributed to 33 prefectures. They also announced that there are 59 types of the virus, more than the 12 types reported by Yoshidaya, and because the extent of the virus cannot be traced, an investigation is being conducted on all types.
Yoshidaya supplied bento boxes to a 'Yaoko' supermarket in the Kanto region on the 16th, and reports of food poisoning incidents emerged during the three-day holiday period from the 16th to the 18th. On the 17th, Yoshidaya announced the suspension of production and sales of 11 bento boxes, as defects were found in these products.
Subsequently, the impact has spread nationwide, with people in Fukuoka Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture, and Kagawa Prefecture experiencing health issues after consuming the company's station bento. On the 23rd, the company was ordered to cease operations by Hachinohe City.
