近年來，日本接連爆發多起引發社會高度關注的食品安全事件，從保健食品、連鎖餐飲到日常甜點與便當，問題層面相當廣泛，也逐漸動搖外界對「日本食安神話」的信心。這些事件不僅造成實質的健康危害，更暴露出製造流程、企業管理、資訊揭露與政府監管上的結構性風險。

其中影響最為嚴重的案例，莫過於2024年爆發的小林製藥紅麴保健品致死事件。該公司生產的紅麴相關保健食品被發現含有不應存在的不明物質「軟毛青黴酸」，這是一種可能對腎臟造成嚴重損害的毒性成分。事件曝光後，陸續傳出多名消費者出現腎功能異常，甚至死亡，引發全日本社會震撼。由於紅麴產品長期被視為天然、健康的象徵，這起事件也讓大眾開始重新審視發酵食品與保健食品的安全性，以及企業在原料控管與品質檢測上的責任。

到了2025年，餐飲業的食安危機同樣頻繁浮上檯面。日本知名牛丼連鎖品牌SUKIYA被揭發在多家分店出現老鼠、蟑螂等異物混入食品的情況，事件迅速在社群媒體擴散，引發民眾恐慌。最終，SUKIYA被迫讓全國近兩千家分店分批停業進行全面清潔與整頓。然而，外界普遍批評其初期應對過於遲緩，資訊揭露不夠透明，導致品牌形象受到重創，也讓人質疑大型連鎖餐飲在高度標準化與高周轉經營模式下，是否犧牲了最基本的衛生管理細節。

同樣在2025年，多起諾羅病毒群聚感染事件也再度敲響警鐘。包括草莓大福、便當等食品被檢出諾羅病毒，造成消費者出現嚴重腹瀉與嘔吐症狀。這類案例顯示，即使是外觀看似精緻、廣受歡迎的甜點與熟食，只要在製作或保存過程中出現疏失，仍可能成為病毒傳播的媒介，反映出餐飲業在人員衛生與冷鏈管理上的長期隱憂。

除了直接的食物中毒事件，食品標示與資訊透明度的問題也屢屢浮現。知名胃藥品牌「太田胃散」就曾因部分批號成分標示錯誤而啟動回收機制，雖然未造成大規模健康危害，但仍引發消費者對藥品與食品邊界產品管理制度的質疑。

從更宏觀的角度來看，潛在風險並不僅限於單一事件。有旅日人士與部分研究指出，日本部分農產品的農藥使用量近年有增加趨勢，雖仍在法規範圍內，但長期累積效應仍令人擔憂。此外，日本高度依賴外食與快餐文化，在追求速度、成本控制與人力精簡的情況下，連鎖餐飲體系一旦管理鬆動，就可能出現系統性衛生漏洞。

在國際貿易層面，日本進口食品也曾被檢出含有致癌物質，例如苯(a)駢芘等污染物，顯示即便是以高標準著稱的日本市場，也難以完全免疫於全球供應鏈的風險，食品檢驗與追溯制度的重要性日益凸顯。

整體而言，日本近年的食安問題已不再是零星個案，而是橫跨保健食品、連鎖餐飲與日常食品的結構性警訊。這些事件共同指向企業內部管理鬆散、品質控管不足、標示與資訊揭露不透明，以及應變機制反應遲緩等問題。對消費者而言，這不僅是健康風險的提醒，也正在重塑人們對日本食品「安全、可靠」形象的認知與信任基礎。

In recent years, Japan has faced some of its most serious food safety crises, exposing systemic risks across health supplements, chain restaurants, and everyday foods. One of the most severe incidents was the 2024 Kobayashi Pharmaceutical red yeast rice supplement scandal, in which products were found to contain an unidentified toxic substance, later linked to citrinin-like soft-hair Penicillium acid, resulting in kidney damage and multiple deaths. This case triggered widespread public concern over the safety of fermented foods and dietary supplements.

Another major incident occurred in 2025, when the nationwide beef bowl chain SUKIYA was hit by reports of foreign objects—including rats and cockroaches—being found in food at its outlets. The scandal forced nearly 2,000 stores across Japan to suspend operations for inspection and remediation. Public criticism focused not only on hygiene failures but also on the company’s slow response, which severely damaged its brand credibility.

At the same time, multiple outbreaks of norovirus infection were reported, involving products such as strawberry daifuku and boxed meals. These incidents led to widespread cases of vomiting and diarrhea, highlighting persistent weaknesses in sanitation and food handling practices within parts of the food service industry. In addition, errors in food labeling further eroded trust, such as the recall of certain batches of the well-known stomach medicine Ohta’s Isan due to incorrect ingredient labeling.

Beyond these headline cases, deeper structural concerns have emerged. Some travelers and consumer groups have pointed out a rising trend in pesticide use on certain Japanese agricultural products, raising questions about long-term exposure risks. The SUKIYA incident also underscored how efficiency-driven operations in fast-food and chain dining environments can result in overlooked inspections and hygiene lapses. In several cases, companies were criticized for delayed reactions and insufficient transparency, weakening consumer confidence in corporate food safety management.

Long-standing issues persist as well. Traditional foods such as chilled salads, pickled vegetables, and lightly processed items are particularly sensitive to temperature control, and improper storage can easily lead to bacterial growth and food poisoning. Moreover, contamination risks are not limited to domestic production. Imported foods in Japan have occasionally been found to contain carcinogenic substances such as benzo[a]pyrene, illustrating the complexity of global supply chains and the necessity of rigorous inspection regimes.

Overall, Japan’s recent food safety challenges reveal that risks exist across the entire spectrum—from health supplements and large restaurant chains to everyday consumer foods. Problems stemming from inadequate management, unclear labeling, and chemical or biological contamination have collectively posed serious threats to public health and consumer trust.