City officials in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, said a metal screw measuring about 1.5 centimeters was found in the mouth of a 4-year-old child during lunch at a kindergarten. The incident happened around midday, according to the report.
The object was discovered while the child was eating, raising immediate concerns about food safety at the kindergarten. Based on the available information, officials confirmed the size of the screw and the age of the child, but broader details about how the metal piece entered the meal were not included in the initial report.
The case is likely to draw attention to meal preparation and inspection procedures at childcare facilities in Toyota and elsewhere in Japan. Incidents involving foreign objects in school or kindergarten lunches are treated seriously because of the risk they pose to young children.
Authorities have identified the matter as a kindergarten lunch safety issue in Toyota, Aichi. Further findings are expected to focus on where the screw came from and what steps may be taken to prevent similar incidents.
