Japan minister quits over tainted rice

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's farm minister resigned on Fridaybecause of a scandal involving tainted rice fed to hospitalpatients and schoolchildren, the latest in a string of foodscares undermining public trust among Japanese consumers.

The resignation, less than a week before a new primeminister is picked and forms a new cabinet, comes as thegovernment fends off criticism from voters and oppositionparties over its handling of the scandal ahead of a loominggeneral election.

"I thought I needed to make a political decision because ofwhat has turned into a big problem for society," Seiichi Otatold a news conference.

Ota is the fourth farm minister to step down in two years,with his predecessors all caught up in expenses scandals. Onecommitted suicide after being questioned in parliament.

Ota, appointed just last month, also faced reports offinancial irregularities but has denied any wrongdoing.

The food scandal, in which small companies sold ricecontaminated with pesticides and mould to food and liquorcompanies, comes as the ruling party gears up for a generalelection that media have reported could take place as early asnext month.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party is expected to votefor a new leader on Monday after Prime Minister Yasuo Fukudaquit abruptly this month.

The winner of the party's top job is assured thepremiership because of the ruling coalition's dominance inparliament's powerful lower house.

The rice scandal has further unnerved consumers, whosetrust in the food industry has been shattered by repeatedquality and false labelling scandals in recent years rangingfrom sweets to milk and meat.

The government has suspended rice imports and announced newrules to stop the sale of imported rice found to be unfit forconsumption. Traders previously had the option of selling suchtainted rice for use in fertilisers or glue, but will in thefuture be forced to ship it back.

(Writing by Chisa Fujioka; Editing by Rodney Joyce)