Maruha firm shipped expired tuna

Tokyo, JPN -- A Japanese food distributor has apologized on his company's Web site for knowingly using expired tuna in consumer products.

Hokushu Shokuhin Co. President Akihiko Tsutsui said he knew in January 2007 his Maruha Corp. company was distributing tuna that expired in July 2006, The Yomiuri Shimbun reported Saturday.

Tsutsui did not halt tuna shipments or inform customers their food may be tainted and the products were sold at sushi restaurants and grocery stores until March.

In June, the company notified government authorities and Hokushu Shokuhin issued a voluntary recall, but most of the food had been consumed by then, the newspaper said.

The newspaper did not say if any consumers became ill from eating the tuna.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International