By Tomomi Abe

It was reported recently that the major confectioner Fujiya Co. made cream puffs using expired milk at its Saitama plant. What is the meaning of the food expiration date? The producers neglected the safety of consumers and their own responsibility.

This unbelievable report triggered revelations of other incidents one after another at Fujiya. There were five cases where moths were found in some chocolate products. At the Saitama plant 485 mice were caught in about three and a half years from Jan. 2003 to Aug. 2006. Their slipshod concern about hygiene leaves one speechless. The worst thing about the whole affair is that Fujiya tried to systematically cover up these incidents.

The number of cream puffs made by using out-of-date milk amounted to about 2,000. Fujiya knew they were out of date after shipping these products, but they did not recall them or try to warn the public. Fujiya has a responsibility as confectioners, so they must not think that the out-of-date products can be sold without any risk to consumers' health.

I once had a part-time job at a Fujiya outlet. Besides sales, I also made some products using fresh cream. Of course I never used expired ingredients and I took the utmost care in hygiene while making cakes. Recently, many confectioners in several department stores make their products behind a glass window. Every store is run cleanly whenever consumers can clearly see it. In other words, every confectionary factory which cannot be seen may be run in the same slovenly way as Fujiya.

After the revelation of these facts, consumers are saddened because they cannot eat any of their favorite Fujiya sweets and they do not know if they will want to buy Fujiya products after it resumes business. Hereafter Fujiya will restart its business in alliance with the major bread and cake maker Yamazaki Baking Co. However, does Yamazaki keep ingredients up to date and its factories perfectly clean? There are still some questions about this.

This worry about food safety goes beyond confections now. It would be quite impossible to choose only safe food from the many thousands of products in the supermarket, so consumers have to trust that all food products are safe for them to buy.

Food producers should show their honesty at all times. Many companies which are not connected to this blunder must not dismiss Fujiya's problem as something that happens to other companies. They ought to confirm the safety of their operations in way that will calm consumers' fears. Speaking of Fujiya, its Sapporo plant failed to meet the bacteria criteria guidelines. Our culinary life, which we once believed was safe, is now unstable.

Having companies conduct their own routine regular checks lacks credibility, so an independent auditing organization should inspect factories and outlets regularly without advance notice. Only then will companies be able to sell their products with confidence and regain the trust of consumers.