Tokyo - Japanese Farm Minister Seiichi Ota said on Friday he would resign over a food scandal involving tainted rice.

"The tainted rice scandal has become a huge social problem, and I have determined that I need to clarify the responsibility of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry," Ota said at a press conference Friday.

According to Japanese broadcaster NHK the resignation was accepted by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.

Ota tendered his resignation after Japanese traders sold rice imported from other nations, including Vietnam, China and Thailand, that was tainted with mould or contained pesticide beyond legal limits, making it unfit for human consumption.

Vice farm minister Toshiro Shirasu already offered to step down over the scandal earlier on Friday after heavy criticism over comments he made blaming rice traders for the scandal.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said the vice farm minister should feel responsible for causing concerns about food safety.

Rice traders, including Osaka-based Mikasa Foods, bought imported tainted rice from the farm ministry, which was not to be used for food, and sold it to more than 300 companies producing rice wine, confectionery or other foods.

No illnesses stemming from consumption of the contaminated rice were reported.

The farm ministry had been selling about 2,000 tons of rice per year tainted with mould, damaged during shipment or with high levels of pesticide, but only for nonedible industrial use, such as making glue or for animal feed. (dpa)