Itochu and Kowa to recall masks after defects in Japan handout
TOKYO (KYODO) —
Two Japanese companies
said Thursday they are recalling all undelivered cloth masks they supplied under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s mask handout program
to address the novel coronavirus pandemic following numerous complaints of tainted products earlier this month.
Trading house Itochu Corp. and pharmaceutical and medical equipment maker Kowa Co.
said they have also found similar problems with masks still in their inventories.
Itochu and Kowa
are among the four companies tapped to provide face masks to pregnant women and general households under Abe’s initiative,
which aims to give each household two cloth masks amid shortages due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Nikkei Asian Review