Japan’s beer maker, Sapporo Breweries Ltd., said on September 1 that by 2006 it would purchase malt and hops, the two basic beer ingredients, only from farmers under direct contract to the company, according to Kyodo News. The plan is designed to verify the provenance of Sapporo's beer products against a backdrop of rising consumer awareness of food safety issues, company officials said.

02 September, 2003