The farm ministry on Wednesday asked Nippon Food Inc. to limit its beef-related business activities and will consider filing criminal complaints against a senior managing director of its parent firm, officials said.
The action stems from allegations Nippon Food defrauded the government by abusing a beef-buyback program.
The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry also issued a request to parent firm Nippon Meat Packers Inc. to temporarily suspend supplies of beef to the subsidiary, the officials said.