, formerly is one of the largest

dairy A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting or processing (or both) of animal milk – mostly from cows or buffaloes, but also from goats, sheep, horses, or camels – for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on ...

companies in Japan. In 2000, more than 14,000 people got sick from old milk sold by Snow Brand contaminated with the

staphylococcus aureus ''Staphylococcus aureus'' is a Gram-positive spherically shaped bacterium, a member of the Bacillota, and is a usual member of the microbiota of the body, frequently found in the upper respiratory tract and on the skin. It is often positive ...

bacteria, the worst case of

food poisoning Foodborne illness (also foodborne disease and food poisoning) is any illness resulting from the spoilage of contaminated food by pathogenic bacteria, viruses, or parasites that contaminate food, as well as prions (the agents of mad cow disease) ...

in Japan. A criminal probe into the company led to some senior managers being charged with professional negligence. Two were convicted, and were given suspended sentences. The company was criticized for failing to recall their product quickly. In January 2003, the company merged with two farm organizations, the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations and the National Federation of Dairy Cooperative Associations as the Nippon Milk Community Co. and eventually rebranded as the Megmilk Snow Brand Company.

References

External links

Megmilk Snow Brand Co., Ltd. (Japanese)

Megmilk Snow Brand Co., Ltd. (Company information in English)
{{Authority control Food and drink companies of Japan Dairy products companies of Japan Food and drink companies established in 1950 Japanese companies established in 1950 2003 mergers and acquisitions Japanese brands