Health inspectors on Monday searched a Kyowa Perfumery & Chemical Co. factory in Ibaraki Prefecture that allegedly produced and shipped banned flavoring agents, sparking a nationwide recall of foods containing them.
The inspectors checked on how Tokyo-based Kyowa's Ibaraki factory in the town of Juo is recalling the substances from food manufacturers.
The factory shipped banned substances to more than 175 food companies in all 47 prefectures.
Backed by the Food Sanitation Law, which bars food processing firms from using banned flavorings in food, the inspectors conducted the search while Kyowa officials looked on.
The inspectors were from the health center in the nearby city of Hitachi.
The Kyowa factory had produced the additives by using banned substances, including acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde and castor oil, since 1992, when it received a license to produce flavorings and other products.
It is the second inspection of the plant after one on May 29, the Hitachi health center said.
The Ibaraki Prefectural Government has posted the products carrying the additives on its Web site at www.pref.ibaraki.jp.