34 students suffer food poisoning after eating clam chowder

Like I said in the last bento poisoning a couple of weeks back when the kids were on the field trip, Japan really needs to introduce health inspectors that come in BEFORE the fact, and not after. Random checks with major penalties are clearly needed. Until then, we'll be reading about the next poisoning incident before year-end, likely.

Pandabelle: It's only in Japan you read about this kind of thing happening over and over, yes, unless you factor in third-world nations, perhaps. Is that how you see Japan?

There's always something happening with the schools these days. It seems that someone - or likely a number of people - need to get the proverbial "rocket"

Let's hope these fools are fined and made to pay compensation instead of the usual, "Gomen nasai!" with a deep bow!

One may hope, but I fear the Japanese tendency to apologise and have all sins forgiven will prevail

Here in Florida food preparers and restaurant managers are licensed and must take continuing education in safe food preparation. Restaurants are regularly inspected by the health department, and often closed until remedial action is completed.

Why are there so many mass poisoning incidents? Lack of integrity and a slackness on the part of cooks serving staff knowing that there are no penalties and no checks. There is little deaths, just vomiting and bum squirts but that's enough.

Cricky: "Why are there so many mass poisoning incidents? Lack of integrity and a slackness on the part of cooks serving staff knowing that there are no penalties and no checks"

Exactly! But don't tell Pandabelle. There seems to be a serious lack of health inspection until after these things happen -- which is very frequent for a first-world nation -- and the penalties seem to be nil. Companies that are this lazy should receive a massive fine, and then suspended and then shut down, subsequently, for repeat offences. Restaurants or catering companies hired for this sort of thing should be automatically suspended. It's really no surprise that this kind of corner cutting happens in all elements of society.

The chowder had been cooked in pots and pans that had been used the previous day for stews and curries. Health officials said that because they were not properly cleaned, when the chowder was being prepared, the bacteria multiplied.

That's called, cross contamination and any cook with half a brain knows you never cook seafood in a pot containing meat remnants. Even preparing seafood on the same chopping board as meats is a no no! Let's hope these fools are fined and made to pay compensation instead of the usual, "Gomen nasai!" with a deep bow!

Okay, now I am convinced there is a serious hygiene problem in food preparation in Japan. This happens way more than it does in any other 'developed' nation.

Why isn't there a public outcry!?

Food safety assumes utmost importance and should be given added care and attention to cleanliness especially when it comes to meals served to school children! The culprits deserve stringent punishment!

It's a sad thing, yes. But placing more inspectors around may not actually prevent sickness before it happens. What it WILL do is make things more costly. Since the kids got sick, and we're here reading about it, this bento-making company will already have to face strict penalties-- from consumers. Bad businesses tend not to STAY in business, regardless of how good/cheap/rare the food is.

Food can still taste OK and have dangerous levels of bacteria. Be careful!

Clam chowder is a minefield. shellfish and sitting in a pot for a while.

Hip-hip-hooray to all mums preparing lunch boxes for their teenage kids!! But seriiusly...apart from assigning food health inspectors, it requires sanitation inspectors as well at schools!!

Don't know if I agree with their assessment.... you also need to take a look at the ingredients. Especially canned clams... I know of a couple of incidents where they were the culprit.

I'm sorry, but any reference to clam chowder has meaning recalling The Simpsons

"Say it, Frenchy! Say "chowder"!"

I hope the girls will get better. I'm sure they will.

When one analyzes how country does in terms of food poisoning and inspection, the best source is to use statistics and not what is reported in the news for when such incidents occur frequently, it NO LONGER becomes 'newsworthy'.

http://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/shokuhin/syokuchu/04.html

@Brandon: Not in Japan. Just look at all the violations Yuki Jirushu racked up, yet they never suffered from low sales.

Isn't there compulsory food hygiene training here for anyone in the catering/food industry? No environmental health officers doing spot checks? No? And they are feeding this poorly handled food to kids.

you ask about that subject you'll just get a shrug of the shoulders and "shoganai", or they'll accuse you of bashing Japan. But the fact remains, Japan does have hygiene issues and a great many others

Statistically no. Nice try though.

Smith

It's only in Japan you read about this kind of thing happening over and over, yes, unless you factor in third-world nations, perhaps

No, no it isn't. These sorts of incidents happen in the US all the time.

No environmental health officers doing spot checks?

If you ask about that subject you'll just get a shrug of the shoulders and "shoganai", or they'll accuse you of bashing Japan. But the fact remains, Japan does have hygiene issues and a great many others

Japan really needs to introduce health inspectors that come in BEFORE the fact, and not after. Random checks with major penalties are clearly needed. Until then, we'll be reading about the next poisoning incident before year-end, likely.

Yes, because more health checks has eliminated food poisoning incidents in countries that have them! Its only Japan!