Japan’s sake industry is facing a serious consumer scare with the discovery of contaminated rice used in the production of its rice based alcoholic beverages.

The sake industry is already facing tough market conditions, with sales failing steadily. According to finance industry figures, consumption has fallen every year since 1995 to a record low of 700.000 kilolitres in 2006.

But at the same time, sake consumption is on the rise overseas, benefiting from the global popularity of Japanese food: exports rose to a record high of 11.334 kilolitres last year, up from 7.051 in 2001. (Source: Decanter.com)