Sukiya Shuts Down Restaurants After Pests Found in Food

Following alarming pest incidents, Sukiya, one of Japan's largest restaurant chains, will temporarily close nearly 2,000 outlets for deep cleaning after pests, including a rat, were discovered in customer food.

Due to customer complaints about pest contamination at its restaurants, Sukiya announced a temporary shutdown of its locations from March 31 to April 4. This decision comes after confirming that a rat had been found in a bowl of miso soup back in January, and more recently, an insect, likely part of or an entire cockroach, was spotted by a customer in Tokyo.

The well-known chain, famed for its beef-on-rice dishes, expressed its deep regret for the distress caused and stated that its decision aims to address external and internal pest issues. Sukiya had previously shut the restaurant in Tottori, where the rat incident occurred, and promised to repair building cracks that could lead to infestations.

To prevent future occurrences, the company has implemented a stringent cleaning and monitoring protocol, which now includes weekly inspections and proper waste management practices. The ongoing pest incidents have significantly impacted Sukiya’s share price, which quickly dropped after news of the rat but managed to recover later in the week. As the embedded concerns over food safety continue, Sukiya’s upcoming measures will be under close scrutiny by both customers and investors.