OSAKA: A STUNNING number of people are under scrutiny as Japan probes a tainted-rice scandal. The government is establishing if any of 7,000 former or current officials were entertained by private rice dealers in the past five years.

Those being probed either work, or used to work, at regional offices of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry that were involved in the management of tainted rice or related services.

The investigation was launched after a then-division chief of the ministry in Osaka was found to have been entertained by Mikasa Foods. The rice-processing and selling firm is suspected of selling rice with higherthan- permitted pesticide levels as being fit for human consumption.

Investigators are focusing on whether cosy relations between officials and private rice sellers translated into "inappropriate practices".

Rice that was classified by the government as tainted could be used only for industrial purposes like making fertiliser or glue.

Mikasa Foods had purchased 25 per cent of all the tainted rice sold by the central government between fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2008 in private contracts or through bidding.

The controversy has claimed the life of the 54-yearold president of a rice sales firm that bought tainted rice shipped by Mikasa Foods via another firm, then sold it to a confectionery company.

The man hanged himself in his bedroom on Wednesday.