In the first half of 2025, Japan recorded 303 cases of imported food recalls, reflecting the country's stringent control over food quality and safety. These incidents span across various hazard categories, exporting countries, and violation types, indicating a rising trend of potential risks within the global food supply chain.

Statistics show that China had the highest number of recalls with 88 cases, accounting for approximately 29% of the total. The United States followed with 44 cases, and Vietnam with 26 cases. Other countries with notable recall counts include India, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Italy—all major exporters of food to Japan, particularly in categories such as nuts, seafood, frozen vegetables, and processed foods.

The recalled cases were categorized into six main hazard groups, with chemical hazards accounting for the largest proportion:

• Contaminants: 74 cases
• Pesticide Residues: 65 cases
• Food Additives: 58 cases
• Microbiological Hazards: 56 cases
• Other Violations: 21 cases
• Antibiotic Residues: 7 cases

Detailed Breakdown of Hazards

1. Chemical Contaminants – 74 cases

• This category represents the second-highest number of recalls. Affected products were primarily dry nuts such as peanuts, almonds, pistachios, along with spices and grains.
  • Aflatoxins were the most frequently detected contaminants, found in over 90% of cases in this category. Excessive levels were identified in shipments from China, the USA, Brazil.
  • Cyanide was detected in several cereal and packaged food products.
  • A single but concerning case involved the detection of radioactive material in chocolate imported from Lithuania.
• These recalls highlight the risks posed by chemical contamination in raw materials and manufacturing processes, especially from countries with complex supply chains.

2. Microbiological Hazards – 78 cases

• This was the most frequently reported hazard group, accounting for 78 recalls, underscoring the severity of microbiological violations in exported food.
  • Live bacterial counts, Coliforms, and E. coli were the primary causes, particularly in products such as shrimp, squid, frozen vegetables, and packaged foods from China, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Indonesia.
  • Mold growth during storage was also common, especially in rice, wheat, and peanuts from Thailand, the U.S., and Australia.
  • Severe cases included Listeria monocytogenes found in cheese and cold cuts imported from Europe.
• These violations suggest cross-contamination risks during production and storage, especially in frozen and ready-to-eat products.

3. Pesticide Residues – 65 cases

• Food products with pesticide residues accounted for approximately 22% of total recalls. Numerous active substances were found exceeding safety thresholds as defined by Japan’s Food Sanitation Act.
  • Commonly detected substances included 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (12 cases), procymidone (7), chlorpyrifos (6), and other notable compounds such as carbaryl, permethrin, hexaconazole, and mepiquat-chloride.
  • Affected products were mainly vegetables, tea, spices, and cacao from China, India, Ecuador, Mozambique, and Vietnam.
  • Some residues were within non-harmful levels but still violated Japan’s maximum residue limits (MRLs), leading to recalls.
• These findings indicate insufficient residue control at the source, particularly for products from Asia and South America.

4. Food Additives – 58 cases

• Violations involving food additives made up 19% of total recalls, with many cases involving unauthorized or excessive use of additives.
  • Frequently recalled substances included sulfur dioxide, sorbic acid, cyclamic acid, TBHQ, and polysorbate 80.
  • Common violations included: use of non-designated additives, use in non-target food categories, and exceeding permitted levels.
  • Affected products included beverages, confectionery, seasonings, packaged foods, and flavored alcoholic drinks.
• These recalls emphasize the need for exporters to thoroughly review approved additive lists and conduct precise dosage checks before shipment.

5. Antibiotics – 7 cases

• Although the smallest category, antibiotic residues remain a critical concern, especially in aquatic products.
  • Detected substances included doxycycline, enrofloxacin, and furazolidone—all of which are toxic and require strict regulation.
  • Commonly affected products were shrimp and frozen frog legs, primarily from Vietnam and India.
• Despite the low frequency, these hazards require close monitoring due to the risk of antibiotic accumulation in the food chain.

6. Other Violations – 21 cases

• This group includes a wide range of violations, reflecting systemic issues in product quality management and documentation.
  • Common issues included physical damage, foreign matter contamination, non-compliance with material standards, packaging errors, and improper storage conditions.
  • Some cases involved unauthorized genetically modified organisms (GMOs), solvent use, and excessive volatile residues.
• Affected products included functional foods, packaged goods, and food processing equipment.

RECALLS INVOLVING VIETNAMESE-ORIGIN PRODUCTS

In the first half of 2025, Japan recorded 26 food recalls involving products originating from Vietnam, highlighting challenges in quality and safety control within Vietnam’s export supply chain to Japan.

Common Hazard Types

• Microbiological Hazards were the most prevalent, with violations involving Coliforms and E. coli, mainly found in frozen products such as sushi, seafood, and fruit.
• Antibiotics: Doxycycline and enrofloxacin were detected in shipments of shrimp and frozen frog legs.
• Pesticide Residues: Products such as fresh carrots, frozen red bell peppers, and bananas were found to contain hexaconazole, acetamiprid, etoxazole, and cyproconazole above permitted levels.
• Food Additives: Instant noodle products were found to contain acesulfame potassium exceeding allowable limits in seasoning packets. One snack product was found to contain cyclamic acid, a non-designated additive.

The recalled products were imported by various companies, primarily seafood importers. Most shipments were subject to complete disposal or return orders, reflecting the seriousness of the violations.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

A total of 303 food recall cases in Japan during the first half of 2025 underscores the country's increasingly stringent oversight of imported food quality. Notably, major exporting countries such as China, the United States, and Vietnam ranked among those with the highest number of recalls, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen quality control capabilities at the source. With 26 recall cases, Vietnam must pay particular attention to high-risk product categories such as seafood, frozen foods, and processed foods—which are key export strengths but also carry elevated safety risks.

To mitigate risks and maintain credibility in the Japanese market, exporting enterprises are advised to:

• Strengthen raw material control: Enhance supplier audits and inspections, especially for ingredients prone to mycotoxin contamination and pesticide residues.
• Improve manufacturing processes: Review and upgrade hygiene protocols, disinfection procedures, temperature control, and packaging standards to reduce microbiological risks and other violations.
• Stay updated on Japanese regulations, particularly regarding maximum residue limits (MRLs) and the list of prohibited substances.
• Establish robust traceability systems to support inspection and corrective actions in the event of non-compliance.

Proactively enhancing quality control capabilities not only reduces the likelihood of recalls but also contributes to building a reputation for safe, reliable, and sustainable exports, reinforcing the image of the exporting country in the eyes of Japanese consumers.