The government will file a criminal complaint against a unit of Nippon Meat Packers Inc. if it finds that the firm abused a beef-buyback program by disguising imported meat as domestic, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Wednesday.
Later in the day, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry summoned Nippon Meat Packers President Hiroji Okoso for questioning.
The scandal has rocked consumers, investors and retailers, with shares in the company, better known as Nippon Ham, plunging as supermarkets and department stores moved quickly to remove its products from shelves.